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Abstract
The building design process involves a multitude of decisions and options that influence subsequent choices and ultimately dictate the building that is constructed. The decisions made at the start of the design process have the largest influence on the overall impact of the constructed building. Therefore, early-stage design support is crucial when using environmental performance to influence the building design process. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) have become a common tool for understanding the environmental impacts of a material or product. With over 80,000 EPDs published for construction materials, globally, EPDs are often used to evaluate design options and aid in material selection. EPDs convey information from detailed life cycle assessments to building designers that can help to create designs that meet specific environmental targets. However, EPDs report single-point values and follow an attributional assessment methodology. Therefore, EPDs do not communicate the impacts from increasing the demand for the reported product (i.e. via a consequential approach) nor are they equipped with information to convey uncertainty for the reported values. Additionally, the specificity of EPDs and defined functional units for certain product categories, i.e. non-structural elements, can render EPDs incomparable for key design decisions. A survey of industry has been conducted to assess how EPDs are currently used by building designers. The survey establishes: 1) what information from an EPD is used during the design process; 2) when EPDs are used to support the design process; 3) how EPDs currently support designers; 4) what information is currently missing from EPDs; and 4) how EPDs can be improved to better support designers during early-stage decision making. The survey has been completed by practicing architects, structural engineers, building services engineers and others involved in the design process. To address the shortcomings of the current single-point values, the survey seeks to inform if and how uncertainty should be communicated to building designers and reported in EPDs. The survey results will inform the next generation of EPDs. Therefore, ensuring EPDs are equipped with the information needed by designers to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - Sept 2023 |
Event | The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management - Lille Grand palais, Lille, France Duration: 6 Sept 2023 → 8 Sept 2023 https://www.lcm2023.org/ |
Conference
Conference | The 11th International Conference on Life Cycle Management |
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Abbreviated title | LCM |
Country/Territory | France |
City | Lille |
Period | 6/09/23 → 8/09/23 |
Internet address |
Keywords
- life cycle assessment
- industry perspectives
- environmental product declarations
- Survey
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Dive into the research topics of 'Industry Perspectives on the use of Environmental Product Declarations to inform building design'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
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Towards net-zero carbon buildings: tackling UNcertainty when predicting the CARbon footprint of construction products and Buildings (UNCARB)
Allen, S. (PI), Kyprianou, A. (CoI), Hattam, L. (Researcher) & Marsh, E. (Researcher)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
16/08/21 → 19/07/24
Project: Research council