Lifecycle: c
Whole Life Cycle
Assessment tooling
IMPACT for LCA
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
IMPACT Partners:BREiesWhole Life LtdWillmott Dixon
What does it do?
IMPACT is a method and dataset that integrates with 3D CAD/BIM tools to report on environmental impacts and life cycle costing in the construction industry. IMPACT takes quantity information from the BIM and multiplies this by the environmental impact and/or cost ‘rates’ to produce an overall impact and cost for the whole (or a selected part) of the design. The results generated by IMPACT allow the user to:
•analyse the design to optimise cost and environmental impacts.
•compare whole-building results to a suitable benchmark to assess performance, which can be linked to building assessment schemes.
•analyse the design to optimise cost and environmental impacts.
•compare whole-building results to a suitable benchmark to assess performance, which can be linked to building assessment schemes.
Why use it?
Software tool that integrates with CAD and BIM tooling to provide a rich picture of environmental impact and life cycle costing on construction projects.
Accessibility
Required to get in touch with one of the IMPACT partners. The cost of IMPACT varies according to the specific IMPACT compliant tool and can be obtained from the respective software developer directly.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
EarthSmart for LCA
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Earthshift Global
What does it do?
A tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of a product or service.
Allows designers and engineers to:
• Assess the broad impact of adopting an alternative material or manufacturing process.
• Pinpoint problem areas and to swap in alternative materials.
• Export tables into Excel and save charts or create custom reports.
• Evaluate how different recycling rates change the environmental impact of your product.
Provides built-in parametric modelling and over 8,000 internationally verified datasets from Coinvent and US-EI databases covering common materials, processes and energy inputs.
Allows designers and engineers to:
• Assess the broad impact of adopting an alternative material or manufacturing process.
• Pinpoint problem areas and to swap in alternative materials.
• Export tables into Excel and save charts or create custom reports.
• Evaluate how different recycling rates change the environmental impact of your product.
Provides built-in parametric modelling and over 8,000 internationally verified datasets from Coinvent and US-EI databases covering common materials, processes and energy inputs.
Why use it?
Web-based life cycle assessment (LCA) tool to support decision making during the design and build phases of a major project. Provides free access to YouTube tutorial sessions on how to use the tool.
Accessibility
7 day free trial available.
Educational student, Educational and Commercial licences available thereafter.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Manufacturing / Production
How to access it
Rating
LCA4Waste
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Ecological Systems Design, ETH
What does it do?
A software application used to analyse and compare the environmental impact of different resources and waste treatment scenarios within and between industries.
Why use it?
Software tool that provides data and information that can support resource use and waste management decisions in energy intensive industries and in dedicated waste treatment processes.
Accessibility
Software is available free of charge subject to downloading and agreeing to the software agreement.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Manufacturing / Production
How to access it
Rating
Circularity Calculator
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
IDEAL&CO Explore BV
What does it do?
The circularity calculator was developed by and for designers working on circular products. Provides the following features:
• Allows users to quickly test ideas for products and business models
• Produces indices that may be used as KPIs (e.g. reuse and recycling rates)
• Present the potential financial benefits of circular products.
• Allows users to quickly test ideas for products and business models
• Produces indices that may be used as KPIs (e.g. reuse and recycling rates)
• Present the potential financial benefits of circular products.
Why use it?
Online software tool used to assess the circularity of product designs. Produces visually appealling tools and dashboards.
Accessibility
Register for licence - 4 licence types Free, Demo, Edu and Pro.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
Impact Estimator for Buildings
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Athena Sustainable Materials Institute
What does it do?
Free software tool that will evaluate whole buildings and assemblies using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. User is prompted to input the required information and the tool presents detailed results on the cradle-grave environmental impact. Includes the ability to add in alternative materials or processes to conduct design analysis and make improvements.
Why use it?
Free LCA tool to support decision making during the design and build phases of a major project.
Accessibility
Tools can be downloaded via website free of charge.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
SPeAR® (Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine)
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
ARUP
What does it do?
Decision support software tool that appraises infrastructure projects based on 21 social, environmental and economic indicators. Results are presented graphically on the unique SPeAR® diagram which shows a traffic light system indicating performance in each area.
Why use it?
During the design stage it can be used to compare and assess the pros and cons of various design options, identify key risk areas, guide decision-making and assess the implications of design changes. It can also be used to undertake evaluation upon project completion, and during operation, which can inform organisational learning and approaches to future projects.
Accessibility
Pre-Appraisal SPeAR is free. After which licence costs apply.
Target Audience
Usable by all
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Sector
Construction / Infrastructure
How to access it
Rating
Autocase
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Autocase
What does it do?
Used by Architects and designers to produce designs that combine life-cycle cost analysis and cost-benefit analysis of buildings and so allows users to quantify and attribute monetary values to financial, social, and environmental impacts of any project proposal. Requires minimum project-specific inputs and then Autocase pre-populates standard buildings and localised industry-validated data to measure the impacts of designs.
Why use it?
Triple bottom line cost benefit analysis software for buildings and infrastructure. Can show the financial, social and economic benefits of your designs to support the business case.
Accessibility
Free demo available, after which licence fee charges apply.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
CCaLC2 (Carbon Calculations over the life cycle of industrial activity)
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
University of Manchester
What does it do?
A software application tool for calculating the environmental and economic impacts of life-cycle carbon inventories along the whole supply chains. Allows users to estimate the financial cost and benefits of reducing the carbon footprint. Available to download for free and can be tailored for different applications (Windows, Android, Excel) and industrial sectors.
Why use it?
LCA and decision-support tools for calculating and reducing the carbon footprints of different industrial sectors across supply chains. Particularly effective during the design stage.
Accessibility
Fully accessible subject to download capability.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
3Pillars
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
Earthshift Global
What does it do?
Online Return on Investment software that utilises a continually updated database of social and environmental costs and a range of other factors to compare investment opportunities on both a sustainability and profitability basis. Data can be easily inputted into an intuitive interface and provides dashboard views of results, including project views.
Why use it?
Gain an understanding of the anticpated environmental and economic performance of your business case and design.
Accessibility
30 day trial available.Pricing on licence costs available on website.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All