CIEG210 - Quiz 2

What does LCA stand for?

Life Cycle Assessment

LCA definition

A standardized method of tracking and reporting the environmental impacts of a product or process throughout its life.

3 Most Common System Boundaries

1. Gate-to-gat

2. Cradle-to-gate

3. Cradle-to-grave

Gate-to-Gate (of manufacturing facility) Definition

Considers manufacturing only

Cradle-to-Gate Definition

Only considers material extraction and manufacturing.

Cradle-to-Grave Definition

Considers full life cycles. Procurement to end of life (trash).

Metric Inputs (resource only)

• Energy

  • Renewable

  • Non-renewable

• Water

• Abiotic Depletion

  • Elements

  • Fossil Fuels

Metric Outputs (emissions and watse)

• Global Warming Potential

• Ozone Depletion Potential

• Acidification Potential

• Eutrophication Potential

• Smog Creation Potential

• Particulate Matter Emissions

• Landfill Material

LCA Strengths

• All encompassing of environmental outcomes

LCA Weaknesses

• Doesn’t account for all aspects

  • Most namely social and societal impacts

What does ADF stand for?

Abiotic Depletion Factor

What is ADF measured in?

kg - Sb

Kilograms of Antimony

Formula for Abiotic Depletion Factor

[kilograms of element] x [ADF of element available] = Kg of SB

Conceptually what does the ADF do?

The amount of the elemnt being used compared to the amount available

Waste Mangement Hierarchy - (most preferred down to least preferred)

Prevention

Minimisation

Reuse

Recycle

Energy Recovery

Disposal

What does EPD stand for?

Environmental Product Declarations

PCR Type 1

“Green Certified”

• Externally verified

• Have an “Ecologo” or similar

• Targeted at Consumers

What is an “Ecologo”?

A product verified for reduced environmental impact.

PCR Type 2

Self-declared

• Targeted at consumers

• Focused on a single metric

• Internally verified

What is embodied energy?

Any and all energy used to not only maintain the space but also the energy it took to make the space and the energy used in the manufacturing of the materials for the creation of the space.

PCR Type 3

EPD

• Targeted to professionals

• Developed using regimented and verified process

• Detailed reporting of environmental impacts for use in LCA

What does PCR stand for?

Product Category Rule

What is the definition of EPD?

A report quantifying a product’s environmental impact using a formal process established by the International Standards Organization.

What are the 4 resource use metrics for LCA?

1. Abiotic Depletion of elements

2. Abiotic Depletion of fossil fuels

3. Renewable Materials

4. Secondary Materials - materials from recycling or reuse.

Acidification Potential (AP)

The process of changing the pH of water or soil.

How does acidification happen?

Way 1:

1. Sulfur and Nitrogen enter the soil and atmosphere through acid rain and urban/industrial runoff.

2. Sulfur and Nitrogen leach nutrients (Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium) from soil and water.

Way 2:

1. Emissions of CO2 has a chemical reaction with water and creates corbonic acid.

Sources of Acidifcation

1. Fossil Fuel Emissions

2. Agricultural Runoff

What happens to Soil and Water once acidification occurs.

1. In soil pollutants enter food stream, nutrient leaching leaves soil less productive and threatens earthworm populations.

2. In water removal of Calcium limits shell and bone production, leads to decline in coral, fish, and mollusc populations.

3. Damages exposed building materials (reduces durability, increased maintenance which is expensive)

How can CEs reduce acidification?

• More energy efficient buildings

• Less time/distance using construction/transportation vehicles

• Less concrete use

Eutrophication Potential (EP)

The potential for excess biological activity in an aquatic system.

Synonym for Eutrophication Potential

Nutrient Pollution - but this usually refers to nitrogen or phosphorus

Primary Effect of Eutrophication

Damage to aquatic ecosystems through loss of…

• Biodiversity

• Food Security

• economy (recreation, fisheries, etc)

Increase…

• climate change

What causes Eutrophication?

1. Agricultural, urban, and industrial runoff adds excess nutrients (Phosphorus and Nitrogen) into water systems.

2. Excess nutrients cause spike in plant growth (algae, bacteria, etc)

3. New population of plant consumes all available oxygen, creating dead (hypoxic) zones and causing other species to flee or die.

Primary causes of Eutrophication?

• Fertilizers

• Exhaust

• Wastewater and stormwater

How can CEs remedy eutrophication?

• Better water treatment and management practices

• Sustainable dredging

• Green Infrastructure

Water management challenges within developed nations?

• Aging Infrastructure

• Climate Stress

• Emerging Pollutants such as PFAS (nicknamed forever chemicals) and microplastics within water need very expensive specialized treatments.

Water managements that CE can assist with.

• Flood Control

  • Roadway siting and elevation

  • Permeable Pavements

  • Storm Water Management Systems

• Sediment Control

  • Silt Fences

  • Responsible Dewatering Practices

What does GWP stand for?

Global Warming Potential

What is Global Warming Potential?

Measures how much infrared radiation the emission of 1 ton of gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emission of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2)

What is the typical GWP?

over 100 years

Sources of Global Warming Potential

• Burning Fossil Fuels (heat, electricity, transportation)

• Manufacturing processes

• Landfill Emissions

• Agricultural Processes.

How can CEs reduce GWP?

• Alternative need for transportation

  • Walkable cities/towns

  • more sustainable and efficient roadways.

• Buildings

  • more energy efficient buildings

  • Use less concrete

What does ODP stand for?

Ozone Depletion Potential

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) Definition

A metric that measures how much a chemical can damage the ozone layer compared to an equivalent mass of (the once common) refrigerant chlorofluorocarbon CFC-II

How does ODP happen?

1. Hairspray, refrigerants etc, emit halocarbons (CFCs, freons, halons) into the stratosphere.

2. Sunlight causes halocarbons to release chlorine atoms which break down ozone molecules.

3. Depleted ozone layers allow UVB radiation to reach the surface.

What is the outcomes of ODP?

• skin cancer

• eye damage

• reduction of plankton

• crop loss

• global warming contribution

Main Sources of ODP?

• Aerosol Sprays

• Refrigerants

• Foams

How can CEs reduce ODP?

• Use HVAC systems and coolants that use HFCs instead of CFCs

• Avoid fire suppression systems that use CFCs

• Use eco-friendly foam for insulation and other blowing agents

Smog is caused by what? (what chemicals and compounds?)

SOx and NOx fossil fuels emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Smog primary effects

Damage to human health (primarily the respiratory system)

How can CEs reduce Smog?

• lowing emissions during construction

• designing smart transportation systems that cut vehicle idling

• Use water sprays and wind barriers to suppress dust

• Cover materials storage piles and contain cement dust, sand, and debris to prevent airborne spread.

What does PM stand for?

Particulate Matter

What is the definition of Particulate Matter?

A mixture of small solid particles

Course PM

2.5-10um

small enough to pass through nasal passages (PM10)

Fine PM

<2.5um

can travel deep into lungs (PM2.5)

How do we quantify PM in LCA?

Comparative Toxic Units (CTUh) and disease cases per kg emitted

Sources of PM (coarse and fine)

course: from dusty roads and industries

fine: smoke from fires, power plants, and auto exhaust

How can CEs reduce PM?

• Not using chemicals or materials made from the chemicals on the red list.

What is Design for Deconstruction?

Designing with the intent that when the building has run its course it can be deconstructed and the materials can be put to good use and recycled rather than thrown away.

Prevention vs. Mitigation vs. Adaption

• Prevention: stops an event from happening entirely

• Mitigation: makes the impacts of an event less severe if it does happen.

• Adaption: adjusts our lives and systems to live with the ongoing or unavoidable consequences.

What is human centered design?

Design centered on humans’

1. Needs

2. Inconveniences

3. Preferences

Public Design Charrette

Planning session where designers, citizens, and other stakeholders (like government officials) collaborate on a vision for a project.

Focus of Public Design Charrette

• Ideas

• Issues: present and future

Public Design Charrette Advantages

• More ideas and experiences from more perspectives = better solutions

• Builds awareness and consensus

• Saves time and resources by developing foresight on potential problems.

Public Design Charrette Disadvantages

These could all be prevented through good facilitation:

• Unrealistic Expectations

• Expert Domination

• “Loudest Voice” domination