Life Cycle Assessment
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- Parent Category: Reports
- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 13:40
- Written by Kris De Decker (edited by Vincent Grosjean)
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Via Low-tech Magazine, 03-03-2008
New research shows, albeit unintentional, that generating electricity with solar panels can also be a very bad idea. In some cases, producing electricity by solar panels releases more greenhouse gases than producing electricity by gas or even coal.
Producing electricity from solar cells reduces air pollutants and greenhouse gases by about 90 percent in comparison to using conventional fossil fuel technologies, claims a study to be published this month in “Environmental Science & Technology”. Good news, it seems, until one reads the report itself. The researchers come up with a solid set of figures. However, they interpret them in a rather optimistic way. Some recalculations (skip this article if you get annoyed by numbers) produce striking conclusions.
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- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 12:58
- Written by Ingo Ratsdorf
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Via Ecofriendly Company, 27-04-2010
The following table lists the carbon footprint of some groceries. This is according to GEMIS research published by the German News Tagesschau.
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- Parent Category: Reports
- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 12:58
- Written by Ingo Ratsdorf
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Via Ecofriendly Company, 27-04-2010
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, animal husbandry contributes more to global warming than the whole of the transport sector. This news is also significant to many canteens and restaurants. The employees favourite: steak as a climate killer? 51% (study by Worldwatch Institute) of all CO2 emissions worldwide are caused by the production, transport and processing of foodstuffs. The share of meat production in CO2 emissions is 50 times higher that that of vegetable production.
The some 13 million cattle in Germany ensure that we always have fresh meat on our dinner tables and in the company canteen. They give out some 50 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, which corresponds to 30% of the emissions given out by the traffic on the roads of Germany – irrespective of whether we are talking about organic beef or not.
A Japanese study by the National Research Institute for Agriculture determined that, in cattle farming, a cow emits gases that correspond to a greenhouse effect of some 36 kilograms of CO2. from the moment its is born to the moment it is slaughtered By way of comparison, our cars emit some 37.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide each time we drive 250 km. Transporting the beef is not included in the calculation here. Amongst other things, this calculation includes the energy needed to produce the fodder, and the methane emitted by the cattle during digestion. In addition, manure has a negative effect on the ground and water quality.
The Carbon Foodprint for various types of meat:
Pork & poultry: 3.5 kilos CO2/kilo meat
Beef: 13.3 kilos CO2/kilo meat
The large difference comes from the fact that cattle produce methane and nitrous oxide.
In contrast, fresh, seasonal cultivated organically vegetables perform much better in comparison. The climate balance equivalence for organic vegetables is just 1% CO2 compared to beef.
In Sweden recently, fast food restaurants started putting the CO2 footprint on the meals that they sell. In the EU however, the right method for introducing a CO2 label for foodstuffs has still not been found.
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- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 12:58
- Written by Daniel Kellenberger
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From Convention Management, by Daniel Kellenberger, retrieved 19-05-2010
SCION, Sustainable Consumer Products, LCA Group, 89 Courtenay Place, Wellington 6011,
o: 0064 (0)4 802 49 81, f.: 0064 (0)4 385 33 97, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
Eight LCA-based building-related environmental assessment and design tools were compared in order to present recommendations to improve existing or to develop future tools. The study was a contribution to the work of members of a European Network (PRESCO: Practical Recommendations for Sustainable Construction) who aim to define a European Code of Practice for Sustainable Building.
Read more: Comparison of European LCA-based Building Assessment and Design Tools
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- Parent Category: Reports
- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 12:58
- Written by Ingo Ratsdorf
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via Ecofriendly-Company.com, 20-06-2010
So loved throughout Europe, french-fried potatoes are to be found on the menu of every canteen, and nearly every restaurant and bar. How they are prepared though is astounding when it comes to the carbon footprint.
There are so many different ways of preparing potatoes: there’s jacket potatoes, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, and our all-time favourite, french fries or, as they are called in the UK, chips. No other vegetable can be prepared in so many different ways. And french fries are definitely the most popular method of preparation in Germany.
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- Category: Life Cycle Assessment
- Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 13:41
- Written by Anders C. Schmidt, Allan A. Jensen, Anders U. Clausen, Ole Kamstrup and Dennis Postlethwaite
- Hits: 2011
A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Building Insulation Products made of Stone Wool, Paper Wool and Flax
Part 2: Comparative Assessment
Anders C. Schmidt1*, Allan A. Jensen1, Anders U. Clausen2, Ole Kamstrup2 and Dennis Postlethwaite3
1 dk-TEKNIK ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT, 15 Gladsaxe Møllevej, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark
2 Rockwool International, Hovedgaden 584, DK2640 Hedehusene, Denmark
3 Mulberry House, Conwy Road, Tal-y-Bont, Conwy, LL32 8SF Wales, United Kingdom
Preamble.
Insulation of buildings is an important technology for saving heating energy and for a sustainable development. The results of a comparative LCA study of three insulation products applied for roof insulation are summarised in two parts. The products selected are based on HT stone wool representing traditional products - flax representing crop grown products and paper wool representing recycled products, respectively. Although the three materials have vastly different life cycles, they yet fulfil the same function; the methodology used should be of general interest.
Read more: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Building Insulation Products
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- Last Updated on Friday, 22 June 2012 12:58
- Written by Barbara Nebel for Beacon Pathway
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The Role of LCA in Decision Making in the Context of Sustainable Development
Final
A report prepared for Beacon Pathway Limited
October 2007
About This Report
Title
The Role of LCA in Decision Making in the Context of Sustainable Development
Authors
Nebel, Barbara, Scion; Warnes, Jeremy, Scion (team leader)
Reviewer
Gifford, John, Scion
Abstract
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standardised methodology for the quantification of the potential environmental impacts of processes and systems. The data provided can be used
effectively to assist in decision making situations. This paper gives examples on how the results from LCA studies and the process of conducting the study can assist in decision making processes. Emphasis is on explaining and guidance on interpretation of the information delivered by an LCA as an essential part of achieving broader goals such as sustainability rather than the simple comparison of products.
The role of environmental labels and rating tools in decision making processes from the perspective of LCA is discussed and examples from companies who have already successfully
implemented LCA in their organisations are provided.
The paper concludes with recommendations about using LCA more effectively in decision making processes in the built environment in New Zealand.
Read more: The Role of LCA in Decision Making in the Context of Sustainable Development