2022 | 2023 | 2024

2022

Strategies for Achieving Circular Economy Goals in the Lighting Industry Through Design for Disassembly-Based Methodologies, November 2022
The significance of circular economy and its integration into core strategies for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth, is increasingly being recognized by individuals, organizations, and nations in recent times. The term design for disassembly (DfD) may conjure up images about the end of life of a product or its disposal. However, DfD connects to numerous circularity and sustainability goals over the lifetime of a product or project and can have a large impact on the carbon footprint of the product. Read full report.

2023

Data-Driven Buy Clean: Decarbonization and Beyond, March 2023
Recommendations on the availability of public background data from the Federal Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Data Commons to conform with the Association for LCA 2022 Product Category Rule Open Standard to build technical tools that can assist industry in creating more comparable Type II Environmental Product Declarations for Federal Buy Clean and other sustainability initiatives. The Federal LCA Commons is not only a public data source but also a consistently structured, self-referencing mega-repository for data developed by federal agency experts (in agency repositories) and by academia, nonprofit organizations, and industry (via the U.S. Life Cycle Inventory Database). Read full report.

2024

Strategies for Connecting Whole-Building LCA to the Low-Carbon Design Process, January 2024
Decarbonization is essential to meeting urgent climate goals. With the building sector in the United States accounting for 35 percent of total U.S. carbon emissions, reducing environmental impacts within the built environment is critical. Whole-building life cycle analysis (WBLCA) quantifies the impacts of a building throughout its life cycle. This work proposes a workflow for fully incorporating WBLCA into the building design process in an iterative, recursive manner, where design decisions impact the WBLCA, which in turn informs future design decisions. Read full article.

Integrating Mechanical and Electrical Systems in Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments: Insights, Challenges, and Holistic Solutions (PowerPoint), September 2024
Presented at the 2024 American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Conference | The building industry significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Professionals use whole building life cycle assessments (WBLCAs) to find environmental impact hot spots and reduce overall impact, but there's no consensus on the best approach. Our team interviewed sustainable building experts and developed a holistic WBLCA workflow, focusing on mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and applied it to a Department of Energy model, identifying barriers and best practices. Click to view PowerPoint.

A Holistic Evaluation of LED Power Supplies Through Dissection, Evaluation, and Statistical Investigations (PowerPoint), September 2024
Presented at the 2024 American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Conference | Over the past decade, many in the luminaire technology sector have switched from traditional bulbs to efficient LEDs, driven by energy efficiency and lifespan aligning with U.S. Net-Zero Emissions Goals. PNNL developed a Life Cycle Inventory template to expand LED data but found gaps around ancillary products like power supplies. This project aims to provide information for better decision-making in lighting technology selection to reduce overall building impacts. Click to view PowerPoint.

Addressing Challenges in Adapting Life Cycle Inventory Templates to New Products (PowerPoint), September 2024
Presented at the 2024 American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Conference | This presentation delves into adapting product-specific Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) templates, focusing on shifting from luminaires to HVAC rooftop units (RTUs). PNNL tackled challenges like aligning functional units, mapping materials, and system boundaries by using detailed product analysis and stakeholder engagement. The lessons-learned and successes in adapting the LCI template for RTUs provide valuable strategies for developing reliable life cycle assessments across various products. Click to view PowerPoint.

Closing the Loop: End-of-Life Considerations and Material Circularity in Modular Residential Construction (PowerPoint), September 2024
Presented at the 2024 American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Conference | Currently, a majority of construction waste goes directly to the landfill after a home’s useful life, representing a significant source of emissions. Circularity concepts challenge this norm, seeking ways to reduce resource consumption and extend the useful life of materials. The Circular Home is a Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy funded project that provides an ambitious example of circular thinking in the residential building sector. Click to view PowerPoint.

Coming Soon

• Identifying Current Applications and Limitations of Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments Through Expert Interviews and Surveys 
• Lighting Systems Integration with Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment
• Enlightening Sustainability: Unveiling the Environmental Footprint of LED Power Supplies through Innovative Disassembly and Life Cycle Assessment Methods
• Grid Mix Impacts on Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment