An economic and environmental total life cycle costing methodology and a web-based tool for environmental planning of buildings

Abstract

This research is a translation of the international Kyoto protocol into practical steps towards effective environmental planning in the building industry. This research develops a methodology to quantify environmental impacts of building materials to be used along with standard life cycle costing evaluation (LCC) resulting in total life cycle costing (TLCC). Based on the developed methodology, the economic LCC of building materials is calculated according to the ASTMs standard methodology, while their environmental impact is first quantified in tones of CO2, based on Global Warming Potential (GWP), and then translated into monetary value to be used in the environmental impact LCC. Quantification of studied materials emission is done with the help of SimaPro, a professional life cycle assessment tool, considering their total life span. Monetary value of quantified CO2 emission is then taken from actual CO2stock markets (i.e. Point Carbon: www.pointcarbon.com). Total life cycle costing (TLCC) is then calculated from both the estimated economic and the environmental impact LCCs. The methodology aims at a number of building professionals: 1) designers, 2) material specification writers and quantity surveyor, 3) permit authorities, 4) research groups, 5) developers, and 6) manufacturers. The methodology is supported with a web-based design tool named EconoEnviroTLCC Tool. The tools main goal is to put the developed methodology into practice by building professionals to better plan to achieve sustainable buildings. The tool enables its users to evaluate LCC, environmental LCC and total life cycle costing (TLCC) of partial and/or complete building envelope elements. The tools results are presented in tabular and graphic formats.