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Core Reports | ||||||||||||||
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Annex 31 offers four Core Reports that together provide a comprehensive introduction to the theory, design and application of energy and life cycle assessment (LCA) tools for buildings.These include: | ||||||||||||||
Environmental Framework | click to open the main PDF document | ||||||||||||||
An
environmental framework is the foundation to any analysis
of the energy-related environmental impact of buildings.
An environmental framework provides a consistent and
comprehensive system for describing the physical interactions
arising throughout the life cycle of buildings. This report provides a detailed description of the concepts and methods used to analyse the technical systems that affect the environment, including functional units, and cause and effect chains. |
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Decision Making Framework | |||||||||||||||
A
decision-making framework is required in order to effectively
design and develop environmental assessment methods and tools.This
report serves to clarify how and when specific actors
become involved in decisions, at each stage in a building's
lifecycle. The Framework defines the scope of each decision, and the types of evaluation criteria and decision-support tools that may be beneficial |
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Types of Tools | |||||||||||||||
Types
of Tools inform the decision-making process by helping
actors understand the consequences of different choices.
Tools are the interface between the environmental framework
and the decision-making framework. To be effective, they
must be tailored to the planning phase, the knowledge
base of the user, and the concerns of the actors - including
the applicable assessment criteria and standards. This report describes every category of tool, their information requirements, and identifies key features that make tools effective. |
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LCA Methods for Buildings | |||||||||||||||
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a technique
for assessing the environmental aspects and potential
impacts throughout a product’s life – from raw material
acquisition through production, use and disposal. This
report begins by summarising how to apply the basic
LCA method to building products, single buildings and groups
of buildings. |