Wall case - Argex, Belgium

Purpose To be prepared for future market demands. Learn more about LCA and LCA methodology. Learn about own products and own processes. Where is the environmental impact greatest?

Function The function of the product is important for defining the functional unit. The wall has defining parameters, such as heat and sound insulating properties. These should be included where they affect the performance and type and quantity of materials used. All utilities affecting the dimensions should be included in the functional unit, as far as possible. The functional unit for this case is: 1 square meter of house wall (1,00x1,00x 0,31 m) constructed, maintained and demolished after 50 years.

The Belgian Wall Life Cycle

The main ingredients of the wall

LCA model Raw materials production Construction End of Life Block raw materials There should be a ‘data’ used’ overhead to be added after this one, showing all data sources.

Results Energy consumption for the main steps in the life cycle You can see that the production of raw materials dominates the energy use for the life cycle.

Energy consumption for raw materials production This graph shows the energy consumption for the raw materials broken down into the different components of the wall. Here one sees that Top Argex block, mortar and clay brick production dominate.

Global Warming Potential for the main steps in the life cycle CO2 from recycled energy carriers is not present here, as the energy diagram showed, the energy used is based mainly on fossil fuels. Again raw materials production dominates.

Global Warming Potential for raw materials production Global warming potential comes mainly from emissions arising from the burning of fossil fuels. The results for global warming are very similar to those for energy consumption, except that Top Argex block production is now more significant. Brick production dominates, but Top Argex blocks are as significant. Cement and mortar production are less significant, as they use more electricity in their production. The Belgian electricity model uses over 55% nuclear power, which does not contribute to global warming, but has its own special problems.

Eutrophication and Acidification for the main steps in the life cycle Nitrogenous and acid emissions contribute most to the impact categories Eutrophication and Acidification. Burning coal and other fossil fuels, produces high SOx and NOx emissions. Construction and Demolition are relatively more important for these impact categories because of diesel used during these phases in the life cycle. Raw materials production is again the most important aspect of the life cycle for both of these categories.

Eutrophication and Acidification for raw materials production Eutrophication and Acidification reflect the pattern shown in the previous slides for Energy and GWP, Clay bricks dominate, but the other main wall ingredients, such as LWA and mortar are important. Insulation has a relatively high environemntal impact despite contributing < 1% of the total mass of the wall. Nitrogenous and acid emissions contribute most to these impact categories. Burning coal and other fossil fuels, produces high SOx and NOx emissions.

POCP for the main steps in the life cycle Hydrocarbon emissions are the main contributor to this impact category. Diesel used on building sites has a significant contribution here (both for construction and demolition). The raw materials are still the most significant contributors.

POCP for raw materials production Hydrocarbon emissions are the emissions that produce POCP. Insulation has a disproportionately large impact here. LWA is the next most significant raw material for POCP.

Waste production for the main steps in the life cycle Waste production during the End of life, or demolition phase dominates. Most of the builing materials (60%) end up as waste on a landfill site. This waste material could be used for other purposes, such as filling materials for building sites / roads.

Waste production for raw materials production Here clay bricks production dominates.