L17&18 Life Cycle Assessment

Question 1

Explain the term Cradle to Grave

Answer 1

refers to approach for analyzing environmental impact of all stages in the life of a products (raw materials acquisition, transportation, installation, operation and maintenance, recycling and waste management

Question 2

Three stages of LCA

Answer 2

1. inventory analysis
2. impact analysis
3. improvement analysis

Question 3

Inventory analysis steps

Answer 3

1. clearly identify final product of interest
2. identify all processes involved in producing product and mass and energy requirements of production
3. identify mass and energy requirements of the product throughout its life
   - pay attention to residuals (opportunities for pollution prevention and minimization
4. identify ultimate fate of product (consumed? disposed (if so how?)? recycled (if so how?)?

Question 4

LCA – Inventory Analysis

Answer 4

For example, for a building:
* additional raw materials are required
– paint
– floor wax
– cleaning materials ….
* energy is required
– building subsystems causing more environmental
impact are those using electricity: cooling, outlets
and lighting
* Pay particular attention to the residuals
– opportunities for pollution prevention and minimization

Question 5

what does Impact Analysis attempt to answer

Answer 5

1. How can the environmental impact of a product be determined?
   - nature and extent of impact
2. How can different environmental impacts be compared?

Question 6

Life Cycle Impact Categories

Answer 6

global
- climate change
- ozone depeletion
- resource depletion

regional
- photochemical smog
- acidification

local
- human health
- terrestrial toxicity
- aquatic toxicity
- eutrophication
- land use
- water use

Question 7

what is Improvement Analysis aka (Design for the Environment DFE) for

Answer 7

• determine and take steps needed to minimize overall impact of product

Question 8

Why is infrastructure required (and important for LCA)

Answer 8

• improve quality of life
• support industrial activities
• protect environment (which also protects humans)
  need to ensure it lasts long and has positive/minimal -ve environmental impact

includes transportation, water and wastewater systems, waste management, buildings, recreational facilities, communications (eg TV/cable network)