1 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 Life Cycle Assessment: Application to Standards, Tools and Rating Systems John Carmody Center for Sustainable Building Research University of Minnesota

2 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October

3 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 A diverse set guidelines and rating systems are continually evolving in response to the scale of development, building type and regional issues Guidelines are being adopted by states and cities as the basis for codes, standards and incentives There is a trend to supplement simple point- based checklists with more requirements and a focus on performance outcomes such as carbon emissions and energy consumption Life cycle assessment of materials is beginning to be included in guidelines and ratings There is increased focus on actual performance during operation and the need for a feedback loop and continuous improvement Recent North American Trends

4 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009

5 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009

6 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 Draft Policy Option RCI-3 Green Building Guidelines and Standards Based on Architecture 2030 Policy Description Promote, incentivize, or adopt green building guidelines and standards for the reduction of carbon emissions for all commercial and residential buildings consistent with Architecture 2030 targets. Clearly communicate the fact that reducing energy use does not always proportionally reduce emissions. Consider developing disincentives to technologies that do not reduce emissions. Require state and local government agencies including school districts to adopt required building guidelines and standards for the reduction of carbon emissions for all buildings consistent with Architecture 2030 targets. New buildings must require the following reductions in carbon emissions: % reduction % reduction % reduction % reduction % reduction All guidelines and standards for major renovations of existing buildings must require reductions in carbon emissions consistent with the Architecture 2030 target of 50% reduction. Provide a variance process when meeting criteria is not appropriate or financially unfeasible.

7 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009

8 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009

9 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009

10 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 Athena EcoCalculator used as a basis for LCA Credit in LEED Athena EcoCalculator used as a basis for LCA Points in Green Globes Athena EcoCalculator used as a basis for LCA Requirement in Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines Athena EcoCalculator used to calculate embodied energy and greenhouse gases from materials in various case study projects including USGBC Case Study Database Application of LCA in Guidelines and Standards

11 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 Life Cycle Assessment approach applied to determining the value of historic preservation Ford Plant Site Sustainable District 135 acres St. Paul, Minnesota UMore Park Sustainable Community ~ 5000 acres Rosemount, Minnesota Other Applications of Performance Metrics Approach including Life Cycle Assessment

12 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 UMore Development Scenarios CONVENTIONALAUTONOMOUSDISTRICT

13 ASTM Workshop on Life Cycle Assessment Atlanta, Georgia October 2009 The US Life Cycle Database needs funding to form the basis for all LCA work LCA tools must continue to evolve to be more comprehensive LCA tools and data must be expanded to address infrastructure and community scale systems More regional information needs to be developed for LCA tools More product specific information needs to be developed for side-by-side comparisons Summary of Research Needs Related to Life Cycle Assessment of Materials