Software company PlanRadar is calling for greater use of Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) to achieve carbon neutrality in the construction industry.
Carbon-neutral construction aims to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry by addressing carbon emissions and resource efficiency throughout a building’s lifecycle. This comprehensive approach, known as the lifecycle approach, considers every phase of a building’s existence?from design and construction to operation and demolition.
Research from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) shows that the construction industry is responsible for 38% of all energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, equivalent to around 14 gigatons. However, less than 1% of building projects currently calculate and report their full carbon footprint. Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) is a crucial tool in achieving carbon neutrality in construction. It evaluates a building’s environmental impact from raw material extraction to demolition, measuring resource use, energy consumption, and emissions at each stage. This data informs sustainable decision-making, enabling construction projects to significantly reduce their carbon footprint and move towards true carbon neutrality.
The key phases of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) typically include:

Goal and scope definition
Inventory analysis
Impact assessment
Interpretation (analysing the results of the inventory analysis and impact assessment)
Imp...