LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Residential building construction represented about 4.2% of the US Gross Domestic Product in 2000, and residences consumed nearly 20% of total US energy consumption. However, design and construction of residential buildings is often not conducted with an analysis of the life cycle costs and environmental impacts. In this paper, we outline an approach to a life cycle analysis for residences, using the results of a typical construction cost estimate to map into tools for environmental life cycle assessment (using the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment model) and for resources required during the use phase of residences (using the DOE Energy Saver model). In essence, material costs are mapped into input-output sectors and the EIO-LCA model applied to assess environmental impacts. Similarly, operating inputs such as electricity or natural gas are estimated from the Home Energy Saver model and mapped into EIO-LCA sectors. The result of using our toolset is a life cycle assessment based upon the construction cost estimate. We are limited in the life cycle assessment to the building costs and the impacts calculated by the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment.