Firstgreen Consulting’s Comprehensive LCA Analysis of a LEED Certified Building in India

Introduction

As a leading advocate for sustainable building practices, Firstgreen Consulting has delved deep into the world of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to ensure that structures not only meet but exceed environmental standards. Our recent endeavor focuses on an industrial warehouse building in India, spanning an area of 15,000 m^2. This detailed case study examines the building’s lifecycle impact reduction in line with the LEED certification system.

The LEED Certification System’s Option 4: A Deep Dive

Aiming to procure 3 points in the Materials and Resources credit, the emphasis was laid on the Building LifeCycle Impact Reduction, specifically Option 4. To shed light on the requirements:

• A life-cycle assessment of the project’s structure and enclosure is mandated.
• A minimum of 10% reduction, when compared to a baseline building, in at least three of the designated six impact categories.
• One of these three must be global warming potential.
• No assessed impact category can surge by over 5% against the baseline.

The six pivotal impact categories include:

• Global warming potential (CO2e)
• Depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer (kg CFC-11)
• Acidification of land and water sources (moles H+ or kg SO2)
• Eutrophication (kg nitrogen or kg phosphate)
• Formation of tropospheric ozone (kg NOx or kg ethene)
• Depletion of nonrenewable energy resources (MJ)

To make an apples-to-apples comparison, both the baseline and proposed buildings must have a similar service life, ideally 60 years.

The Utility of One Click LCA Software

One Click LCA software was our go-to tool for the LCA. It effortlessly calculates life cycle impacts across standard categories, thereby offering a side-by-side analysis against a comparable baseline building. The intricate process involves feeding the software with intricate data about all the building materials employed. This encompasses:

• Foundations and substructure
• Vertical structures and façade
• Horizontal structures such as beams, floors, and roofs
• Other integral structures and materials including staircase, windows, and doors

Furthermore, each material has associated data like quantity, transport dynamics, and service life.

Comparison: Baseline Building vs. Proposed Building

Initially, the baseline building data – representing conventional structures – is imported. Our proposed building, aspiring for LEED credit, integrates optimized materials and structures. The LCA also mandates that background data be consistent with the ISO14040/44 standard and the chosen impact assessment methodology.

A crucial element of this process is the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) – a comprehensive document that records all product details during its lifecycle. The scarcity of EPDs in Russia often means that EPDs from other countries or manufacturers are used as substitutes.

GHG Emissions for Commercial Building: Baseline vs. Proposed

Drawing Conclusions

1. Commercial establishments are instrumental in driving climate change mitigation measures, especially in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
2. The role of international sustainability standards like LEED is instrumental in transforming construction paradigms.
3. LCA provides a holistic view of a building’s environmental footprint, from inception to completion.
4. Green building certifications like BREEAM and LEED are setting benchmarks for sustainable commercial construction globally.
5. LCA insights play a pivotal role in LEED certification, showcasing the potential of sustainable practices in commercial architecture.

LCAs offer a beacon of guidance, determining the sustainability quotient at every commercial building life stage. They also lay the roadmap for future eco-friendly endeavors.