Life cycle costing assessment with both internal and external costs estimation

Abstract

The aim of this article is to study the economic impact of an eco-design-based approach. The product in question is a tie rod fitted to a medium voltage circuit breaker. A new generation of ecologically-designed tie rod, designed by our company, will be compared with the current generation model, using a methodology blending life cycle assessment (LCA), lifecycle costs and external costs. This type of comparison is useful for highlighting companies' attempts to develop environmentally-friendly products, whilst evaluating, wherever possible, the decrease in external costs imposed on the company by such an ecological design-based approach.