Green Globes System to More Fully Integrate LCA

GBI has begun work to more fully incorporate life cycle assessment (LCA) into the Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system, making it easier to compare the cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of alternate building designs.

LCA is a method used to assess the environmental performance of materials, products and building assemblies over their entire life cycles—from resource extraction, through manufacturing, transportation, installation and ultimate disposal. Widely considered to be the only way to accurately and impartially compare products and materials, it captures a variety of environmental indicators, including (among others) fossil fuel depletion, water use, global warming potential and stratospheric ozone depletion.

“Our objective is to make green building more accessible to the mainstream design and building community,” said Ward Hubbell, executive director of the GBI. “Green Globes already incorporates LCA to a limited degree. By integrating it more fully into the system, we’ll make it easier for design teams to compare the environmental impacts of alternate products and materials—and to make informed, scientifically-based choices.”

As a first step, GBI has begun the process to assess and rate various building assemblies using established LCA methodology. Once this data is integrated, design teams will receive credit within Green Globes for using highly ranked assemblies.

Links:
Green Globes Environmental Assessment and Rating System
Article on Green Globes and LCA from Building Design & Construction