Abstract
Architects and engineers have become more concerned about the environmental consequences of their design solutions. Knowledge about Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is crucial for the necessary building sector decarbonisation, as well as for mitigating other negative environmental impacts. In Germany, designers’ attitudes towards LCA have not been analysed since 2005. However, since then, certain developments – such as the establishment of the sustainability assessment systems BNB and DGNB – have taken place. In 2019, as part of the project IEA EBC Annex 72, a survey was conducted amongst designers in Germany. The paper presents the current status to identify the progress being made since 2005 and provides recommendations to overcome barriers to LCA dissemination. The results show that although German designers are currently doing a lot with regard to environmental performance assessment, the most critical aspects are considered in a more qualitative way, except for the mandatory operational energy performance calculations. LCA-know-how and application still lags behind expectation. To support an increased use of LCA during building design, not only the provision of related data and design/assessment tools is necessary, but also the establishment of standards and regulations. The latter will drive the also necessary client demand.
Highlights
By adopting the Graz Declaration on Climate Protection in the Building Sector [1], hundreds of scientists and practitioners are calling for the introduction of binding requirements to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the life cycle of buildings by 2025
Within the scope of the works of subtask 1 (ST1) and subtask 2 (ST2) of IEA EBC Annex 72 “Assessing life cycle related environmental impacts caused by buildings” an online survey was launched and disseminated among the members of the 16 regional Chambers of Architects in Germany in 2018/2019 using Lime Survey software
It cannot and does not have to be assumed that all designers should become familiar with the methodological principles of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in detail
Summary
By adopting the Graz Declaration on Climate Protection in the Building Sector [1], hundreds of scientists and practitioners are calling for the introduction of binding requirements to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the life cycle of buildings by 2025. This will make the identification, assessment and management of buildings’ life cycle carbon footprint along the design process a common task for all building projects. This raises issues about whether design practitioners have a sufficient level of LCA knowledge and are ready to apply it
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