Life-Cycle Approach to Building Decisions
Definition
A life-cycle approach compares alternatives across extraction, manufacture, transport, installation, use, maintenance, adaptation, and end of life so that upstream or downstream impacts are not hidden by a single attractive attribute.
Sourced Facts
- The guide states that building life-cycle stages include design, construction, operations and maintenance, refurbishment, renovation, and ultimately demolition or preferably reuse. PDF p. 34; guide p. 27 PDF p. 35; guide p. 28
- Embodied energy includes energy used to harvest or extract, manufacture, transport, install, and use a product across its life cycle. PDF p. 35; guide p. 28
- Life-cycle assessment evaluates environmental effects, while life-cycle costing evaluates costs; the methods use different data and answer different questions. PDF p. 35; guide p. 28 PDF p. 36; guide p. 29
Interpretation
Interpretation
Compare complete service outcomes rather than isolated product labels. Include durability, maintainability, adaptability, operating performance, replacement cycles, and end-of-life pathways alongside first cost and embodied impacts.
Evidence
- Primary pages: PDF p. 34; guide p. 27, PDF p. 35; guide p. 28, and PDF p. 36; guide p. 29
- Source note: LEED Core Concepts Guide - Third Edition > 2. Sustainable Thinking