Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
although the sets of indicators and consequently the assessment methods
integrated in these rating systems are not based on LCa methodology
comprehensively and consistently, they play an important role in improving
the sustainable performance of buildings (Mateus and Bragança, 2011).
Besides, unlike LCa tools, these systems contain some kind of a rating
system that ends in awarding a certain certification (credit point, grade) to
assessed building (Ding, 2008).
There is also one LCa tool developed specifically for reinforced concrete
structures. it is called EcoConcrete (EcoConcrete, 2011). EcoConcrete is
developed and promoted by the 'Joint Project Group on the LCa of concrete'
(JPG), set up by and composed of the European associations of the different
components of concrete: BiBM (international Bureau for Precast Concrete),
CEMBUrEaU (European Cement association), EFCa (European Federation
of Concrete admixtures associations), ErMCo (European ready Mixed
Concrete organisation) and EUroFEr (European Confederation of iron
and Steel industries). it is a tailor made and peer reviewed MSExcel-based
software for environmental assessment of European ready-mixed and precast
concrete products. EcoConcrete provides results of LCa of ten selected
concrete applications, according to three different methodologies (CML,
EDiP and Eco-indicator) and iSo standards.
The ten functional units correspond to the following concrete applications:
a flat slab, a continuous beam, a foundation pile, a motorway pavement,
a bridge pylon, a separation floor, a load-bearing wall, the elements of
a solid wall, a column and pavement blocks. The first five correspond to
ready-mixed concrete applications and the last five correspond to precast
concrete applications. These ten functional units are analyzed from cradle to
grave, using inventory data provided by co-owners of software and taking
into account the use and maintenance phase and the end-of-life scenario of
different applications considered (Josa et al., 2005). EcoConcrete is available
under license including a training program. The limitations of EcoConcrete
tool are in its database: data is European average and limited to ten specific
products, so it cannot be applied in detailed LCa or for the assessment of
elements that involve different components (for example, recycled aggregate
instead of natural aggregate) or different execution procedures or plant
processes. Some of the applications of this tool have been published. For
example, the assessment of concrete with fine recycled concrete aggregate
(Evangelista and de Brito, 2007), concrete sidewalks (oliver-Solà et al.,
2009) and concrete walls (Šelih and Sousa, 2007).
3.6 Conclusion and future trends
as is well known, three pillars of sustainability are environmental, social and
economic aspects. Therefore, the integrated approach to design and evaluation
