Friday, Nov 7, 03Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo1 Life- Cycle Analysis: The Role of Evaluation and...

Friday, Nov 7, 03 Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo 1

Life- Cycle Analysis: The Role of Life- Cycle Analysis: The Role of Evaluation and StrategyEvaluation and Strategy

Frank R. Field III & John R. EhrenfeldFrank R. Field III & John R. Ehrenfeld

Summary: Asong SuhSummary: Asong Suh

Critique: Alex PolleriCritique: Alex Polleri


OverviewOverview

Definition of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

LCA Steps

Review of Evaluation Concepts

Environmental Impact Analysis in LCA

Environmental Priority Strategies System (EPS System)

Critique


LCA DefinitionLCA Definition‘LCA is a technique for the study of strategies to meet environmental challenges’

Why LCA?•Considers how process will affect the environment in the future

•Process & product developers use LCA to incorporate environmental considerations into design

•Consumer interest groups use LCA to inform consumers of alternative products

•Regulators and policy makers use LCA to guide environmental policy and enforce legislative objectives


LCA StepsLCA Steps

LCA helps consumers, industrialists and government to make decisions that will minimize environmental impacts.

LCA has three steps:

•Inventory analysis- ID and quantify energy and resources used and environmental releases to the air, water & land

•Impact analysis- Assessment of the consequences of resource use and environmental releases for the environment

•Improvement analysis-Evaluation & implementation of ways to reduce environmental burdens


Review of Evaluation Concepts

Difficulty understanding releases to the environment and environmental damage.

Two methods of making environmental decisions

•Setting limits that have to be met or can not be exceeded

•Using value functions


Setting LimitsConsider Hypothetical set of potential alternatives with only two environmental impacts

Dominated alternatives (2& 3)

Nondominated alternatives (1, 4, 5, 6 &7)Selecting from nondominated alternatives


Value Functions

Linear index method Non linear index method

Tool for deciding which nondominant alternative is preferable

Value function represents strategic goals of the community doing the analysis.


Environmental Priority Strategies System (EPS System)

A tool for evaluating ecological consequences of alternative activities or processes

It associates environmental load with individual activities based on materials consumed or processed

EPS environmental safeguard subjects

•Biodiversity

•Production

•Human Health

•Resources

•Aesthetic Values


EPS System cont


Critique

Strengths of LCA• LCA technique covers the entire lifespan of a

product or activity• Establishes values to environmental impacts• LCA also informs consumer on the impact of

products and activities to the environment


Critique

Limitations of LCA• Can not solve complex problems


Critique

Limitations of LCA

LCA only analysis a problem but does NOT provide a solution.

• LCA is based on subjective assumptions Relationship between releases to the environment and the

environment


Critique

Limitations of the EPS System• It associates a value to an environmental impact

subjectively.• The associated value will not always be the same

for different cultures and countries


QUESTIONS?

Friday, Nov 7, 03Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo1 Life- Cycle Analysis: The Role of Evaluation and...

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