Rodriguez, B X; Simonen, K; Huang, M and De Wolf, C (2019) A taxonomy for whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA). Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, 8(3), pp. 190-205. ISSN 2046-6099
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of common parameters in existing tools that provide guidance to carry out Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) and proposes a new taxonomy, a catalogue of parameters, for the definition of the goal and scope (G&S) in WBLCA. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis approach is used to identify, code and analyze parameters in existing WBLCA tools. Finally, a catalogue of parameters is organized into a new taxonomy. Findings: In total, 650 distinct parameter names related to the definition of G&S from 16 WBLCAs tools available in North America, Europe and Australia are identified. Building on the analysis of existing taxonomies, a new taxonomy of 54 parameters is proposed in order to describe the G&S of WBLCA. Research limitations/implications: The analysis of parameters in WBLCA tools does not include Green Building Rating Systems and is only limited to tools available in English. Practical implications: This research is crucial in life cycle assessment (LCA) method harmonization and to serve as a stepping stone to the identification and categorization of parameters that could contribute to WBLCA comparison necessary to meet current global carbon goals. Social implications: The proposed taxonomy enables architecture, engineering and construction practitioners to contribute to current WBLCA practice. Originality/value: A study of common parameters in existing tools contributes to identifying the type of data that is required to describe buildings and contribute to build a standardized framework for LCA reporting, which would facilitate consistency across future studies and can serve as a checklist for practitioners when conducting the G&S stage of WBLCA.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | content analysis; life cycle assessment; taxonomy; tools for practitioners; whole building life cycle assessment |
| Index terms: | content analysis, taxonomy, practitioner, future study, methodology, Australia, whole building life cycle, construction practitioner, taxonomies, green building, life cycle assessment, Europe |
| Subjects: | knowledge organization and systems, physical geography and landforms, design practice, Geography, research methods, environmental impact, research design and methodology, data analysis and analytics, sustainability and energy, practitioner, professional development |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Information Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Sustainability, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here