Applications of Life Cycle Assessment

1. Introduction to Application of Life Cycle Assessment
2. Life Cycle Inventory of Steel Products
3. Life Cycle Inventory Parameters in an Integrated Steel Works
4. By-products in an Integrated Steelworks
5. The Use of By-Products in an Integrated Steelworks
6. Compare Electric Arc Furnace and Integrated Steelworks
7. A Simple Comparison of EAF and Integrated Steelworks
8. A Closer Comparison of EAF and Integrated Steelworks
9. Role of the Individual: Different Spheres of Influence
10. LCA of a Car - the Product Design Engineer's Perspective
11. LCA of a Car: Consequences of Material Selection Decisions
12. LCA of a Car - the Driver's Perspective
13. LCA of a Car - Phase 1: Goal of the Study
14. LCA of a Car - Phase 1: Scope of the Study
15. LCA of a Car - Phase 2: Life Cycle Inventory
16. LCA of a Car - Phase 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment
17. LCA of a Car - Phase 4: Interpretation I
18. LCA of a Car - Phase 4: Interpretation II
19. LCA of a Car - Phase 4: Conclusions
20. LCA of a Building
21. LCA of a Building - Phase 1: Goal and Scope
22. LCA of a Building - Phase 2: Life Cycle Inventory
23. Summary of Application of Life Cycle Assessment

Selecting the most appropriate materials for any application depends on the consideration of a range of technical and economic factors including, for example, functionality, durability and cost. A further and increasingly important factor for material specifiers, in a world where sustainable development is a key issue, is the associated environmental performance of products both from a manufacturing, performance and end of life perspectives.

Some of these requirements are now being driven by legislation at national, regional or even international levels. Among the tools available, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides a holistic approach to evaluate environmental performance. Life Cycle Inventories are carried out by the World Steel Association to quantify resources use, energy and environmental emissions associated with the processing of a variety of steel industry products from the extraction of raw materials in the ground through to the steel factory gate.

Learning Outcomes for this Section

After completing this section, you should be able to:

• Conduct a simple LCA
• Identify relevant environmental inventory parameters within the steel industry, automotive and construction industries
• Describe the role of various individuals in terms of the manufacture and use of sustainable products

Pre-Requisites

You should be familiar with the concepts covered in:

• Principles of Life Cycle Thinking
• Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment

References

• Eyerer, P,  Ganzheitliche Bilanzierung, Springer-Verlag, 354059356X 
• Rubin, ES,  Introduction to Engineering and the Environment, McGraw-Hill, 0072354674 
• IISI,  World Steel Life Cycle Inventory, Methodology Report, IISI,  
• IKP, University of Stuttgart,  GaBi 4 Software-System and Databases for Life Cycle Engineering, ,