Topic 3 Life Cycle Analysis
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The document discusses life cycle analysis (LCA), which evaluates the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle from material sourcing through end of life. Key stages of LCA include production, distribution, use, and disposal. LCA can help identify ways to improve the environmental profile of products, such as using more sustainable materials, reducing packaging waste, or increasing energy efficiency. The document provides examples of LCA being used to analyze automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines, and fuel sources to help optimize their design and minimize environmental impacts.
Topic 3 Life Cycle Analysis
- 1. Topic 3 Green Design Life Cycle Analysis
- 2. Life Cycle Analysis Life cycle analysis provides a framework within which clean production technologies and green design can be evaluated holistically for a specific product Ecodesign Online Pilot from Institute of Engineering Design, Vienna
- 3. Key Stages in Life Cycle Analysis Pre-production Production Distribution including packaging Utilization Disposal
- 5. Major Environmental Considerations Water Soil pollution & degradation Air contamination Noise Energy consumption Consumption of natural resources Pollution and effect on ecosystems
- 7. Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix Pre-production Production Distribution Utilization Disposal Water Soil pollution & degradation Air contamination Noise Energy consumption Consumption of natural resources Pollution & effects on ecosystems
- 8. Analysis of Environmental Impact for an Automobile Example of BMW recycling program research and development Watch the video
- 9. Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix for an Automobile Pre-production Production Distribution Utilization Disposal Water Soil pollution & degradation Air contamination Noise Energy consumption Consumption of natural resources Pollution & effects on ecosystems
- 10. Analysis of Environmental Impact for Refrigerators Although the last decade witnessed dramatic progress in refrigerator efficiencies, inefficient, outdated refrigerators are still in operation, sometimes consuming more than twice as much electricity per year compared with modern, efficient models. Replacing old refrigerators before their designed lifetime could be a useful policy to conserve electric energy and greenhouse gas emissions. However, from a life cycle perspective, product replacement decisions also induce additional economic and environmental burdens associated with disposal of old models and production of new models.
- 11. A analysis of optimal lifetimes of mid-sized refrigerator models in the US, using a life cycle optimization model based on dynamic programming. Model runs were conducted to find optimal lifetimes that minimize energy, global warming potential (GWP), and cost objectives over a time horizon between 1985 and 2020. The baseline results show that depending on model years, optimal lifetimes range 2–7 years for the energy objective, and 2–11 years for the GWP objective. On the other hand, an 18-year of lifetime minimizes the economic cost incurred during the time horizon. Model runs with a time horizon between 2004 and 2020 show that current owners should replace refrigerators that consume more than 1000 kWh/year of electricity (typical mid-sized 1994 models and older) as an efficient strategy from both cost and energy perspectives.
- 12. Analysis of Environmental Impact for Washing Machines Stages in the LCA of a clothes washer The analysis covered the following stages: extraction of raw materials; harvesting of plant products transport of raw materials and processing into intermediate products transport of materials and components to washer manufacturer (including packaging) manufacture of washer transport and distribution of washer (including packaging) operation of washer (including detergent and its packaging, water and wastewater treatment) transport and disposal of washer
- 13. Roles and Responsibilities Designers set the tone for product features and functions. Universities and professional design associations offer cutting-edge green design training programs Manufacturers contribute to the design process by determining what’s produceable, determining efficient manufacturing processes, and by working with designers on other product elements Manufacturers must buy in to the green design concept and commit to working within the manufacturing constraints on green-designed products Consumers create demand for green products. Many consumers must be educated about environmental attributes through product labeling and marketing, while others have let companies know they will only spend money on products that have been designed for the environment
- 14. Life Cycle Analysis Example of a situation where life cycle analysis identifies conflicts that have to be resolved through prioritization Alternative fuel sources – increased barrel cost of crude oil makes alternative greener fuel more attractive Biofuels, ethanol from corn grain and biodiesel from soybeans Photovoltaic cells (solar technology), the technology and materials used to create them, are being improved all the time, becoming more efficient and durable, therefore cost efficient
- 15. Life Cycle Analysis in Practice Life cycle analysis is not used for many products However, in the re-innovation of the design of a product or its manufacture, specific aspects may be changed after considering the design objectives for green products Thus the material selected may be changed to make them more environmentally friendly
- 16. Target Products for LCA Life cycle analysis is targeted at particular product categories with high environmental impact and in the global marketplace It is impossible for companies to argue that their products are being made uncompetitive Life cycle analysis also targets companies with resources to invest in R&D
- 17. Life Cycle Analysis in Practice For example Wood from sustainable forests The selection of less toxic varnish A product may be distributed differently Its packaging may be redesigned Examine McDonalds approach to LCA In-restaurant recycling bins McDonald’s Japan