Lifecycle: Dispose
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
BEES 3.0 (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability)
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
National Institute of Standards and Technology, US Dept of Commerce
What does it do?
Using a guided life cycle assessment online tool the user inputs required information to gain an assessment of environmental and economic performance of building products. Covers all stages in the life of a product including raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, installation, use, and recycling and waste management. In addition, measures economic performance using a life cycle cost method covering the costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal). Both environmental and economic performances are combined into an overall performance measure.
Why use it?
Technique for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products for construction projects.
Accessibility
Tools fully accessible via website, free of charge.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Construction
How to access it
Rating
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Calculation Tools
Type of Resource
Excel tool
Source
Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
What does it do?
A selection of sector or country specific tools (approx. 30 tools) that will allow you to develop inventories of GHG emissions and support in the tracking toward climate goals. Many tools are accompanied by a PDF guidance document, which provides step-by-step guidance on the use of a tool and GHG Protocol to guide the user and support adherence to standards.
Why use it?
A range of tools and guidance to support you when measuring GHG emissions during your project.
Accessibility
Tools (generally Excel based) are free of charge and easily accessible from the web site.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
UL’s Turbo Carbon
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
UL
What does it do?
Easy to use online carbon reporting solution tool. The user follows a guided step by step process to input data, includes data quality facility, to generate carbon impact reports. In addition, offers services to conduct benchmarking with industry peers and creating a carbon reduction strategy. A range of training materials and an online crash course in carbon management are also available once you have set up an account.
Why use it?
Work out the carbon impact on your project and have access to an online platform to conduct ongoing carbon reporting.
Accessibility
The cost of Turbo Carbon begins at US$3,250. This covers an annual license fee, training and a support pot to cover any questions. At the start of each subsequent year a “health check” is provided to reveal how well you are reporting and how you compare with an industry benchmark.
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
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
Environment Agency carbon planning tool
Type of Resource
Excel tool
Source
Environment Agency
What does it do?
Excel based tool that assesses the final carbon impact of materials, transport options and the final footprint of an overall project within the construction sector. The tool was published by the Environment Agency in July 2012 and has been updated periodically thereafter. This tool allows you to compare and assess material and transport choices in your construction project.
Why use it?
Use the tool to assess different design options and continually assess performance to minimise the carbon impact on your project.
Accessibility
Required to contact Carbonplanningtool@environment-agency.gov.uk to gain access to the tool.
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
LCA Calculator
Type of Resource
Software tool
Source
LCA Calculator Ltd
What does it do?
A cloud-based software tool for life cycle assessment helping designers and engineers to understand, analyse and compare environmental impacts of their products, to help them to make ‘greener’ design decisions. Required to create an account but claims to have a usable interface and offer quick calculations.
Why use it?
Instant carbon footprint calculation software to support a sustainable design solution.
Accessibility
Required to pay for a monthly plan
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
All
How to access it
Rating
TRACI 2.1 (Tool for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and other environmental Impacts)
Type of Resource
Excel tool
Source
United States Environmental Protection Agency
What does it do?
An environmental impact assessment tool that measures characterisation factors to quantify the impacts that inputs and outputs have on chemical operations. Can download as an Excel file and includes user manual. Predominatly designed for chemical environmental impacts.
Why use it?
Tool to assess the environmental impacts of chemical use in a project.
Accessibility
Fully accessible
Target Audience
Technical
Difficulty Level
Advanced
Pre-requisites to use
None
Sector
Chemical industry