Understanding a Life Cycle Analysis and the Life Cycle Methodology - Prius Vs Hummer
What is a Life Cycle Analysis?
A life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method to categorize manmade products according to how much energy is involved in their production, as well as any other potential environmental impacts. The LCA is made up of four parts:
1. Raw material acquisition
2. Materials manufacture
3. Production
4. Use/reuse/maintenance
5. Waste management
This is often called a "cradle to grave" approach, since a product is evaluated from the time its material is removed from the earth until it is returned.
Raw material acquisition includes the total amount of energy to extract the material from its virgin state. Materials manufacture refers to the phase of the product's creation where its materials are created. The third step, Production, refers to the assembly of the materials into the form of the product. The next step includes all of the energy and potential impacts of the product's use, reuse and maintenance. Finally, what happens to the material that is discarded during the creation of the product, as well as what happens to the product itself at the end of its use.
Why is an LCA important?
It is growing in popularity today because of the expanded awareness of harmful environmental impacts that are a side effect of many products, and the increased market demand for "green" products. Green products strive to limit such effects. Because an LCA totals the incremental use of energy at each product step, this total energy use can be used to tell how much Greenhouse Gas (GHG) was emitted during its creation. This is becoming a very valuable tool, especially with expectation of a new carbon market in the near future.
An LCA allows companies to move beyond compliance, while allowing consumers to make better purchasing decisions by making the product's environmental impact more transparent.
Examples and Case Studies
Recently, there was a really interesting LCA of a Toyota Prius vs. Hummer H2 and H3. It was interesting not just because the analysis concluded that the Hummer was a "greener" car than the electric hybrid Prius, but also because it became very clear what sort of assumptions were made and how these assumptions directly influenced the result of the LCA.
Understanding a Life Cycle Analysis and the Life Cycle Methodology - Prius Vs Hummer
Hummer H3 Part
Understanding a Life Cycle Analysis and the Life Cycle Methodology - Prius Vs Hummer
Understanding a Life Cycle Analysis and the Life Cycle Methodology - Prius Vs Hummer
Understanding a Life Cycle Analysis and the Life Cycle Methodology - Prius Vs Hummer
