LCA Background
- About Whole-building LCA and Embodied Carbon
– An Athena Institute Briefing Note. September 2019. Athena Institute. 7 pages.
- Advancing sustainable design with life cycle assessment.
May 2014. Jennifer O’Connor and Matt Bowick. 9 pages.
- Athena Guide to Whole-Building LCA in Green Building Programs.
1st Edition March 2014. Matt Bowick, Jennifer O’Connor, Jamie Meil. 40 pages.
- LCA in Construction – status, impact and limitations.
July 2012. Jennifer O’Connor, Jamie Meil, Steve Baer and Christoph Koffler. 8 pages.
- The Future of LCA in Codes.
February 2011. Wayne Trusty. Building Safety Journal (third of a three-part series). 5 pages.
- Misconceptions and Misunderstanding about LCA.
December 2010. Wayne Trusty. Building Safety Journal (second of a three-part series). 4 pages.
- An Overview of Life Cycle Assessment.
October 2010. Wayne Trusty. Building Safety Journal (first of a three-part series). 4 pages. - Incorporating LCA in Green Building Rating Systems.
December 2009. Wayne Trusty. Environmental Managers Magazine. 4 pages.
LCA and EPD Reports
- Cradle to gate LCA of British Columbia Glulam
March 2022. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 31 pages.
- Cradle to gate LCA of British Columbia Softwood Plywood
March 2022. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 29 pages.
- Cradle to gate LCA of North American Wood Product Resin Systems
February 2022. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 93 pages.
- Supplementary Report
- Cradle to gate LCA of British Columbia Softwood Lumber
March 2021. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 37 pages.
- Cradle to gate of LCA British Columbia CLT
March 2021. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 27 pages
- An Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of 1/2” Lightweight and 5/8” Type X conventional Gypsum Board for the USA and Canadian Markets
April 2020. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 52 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Oriented Strand Board (OSB).
September 2018. 33 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Glulam.
May 2018. 33 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Softwood Plywood.
May 2018. 34 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Eastern Canadian Surfaced Dry Softwood Lumber.
March 2018. 44 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Surfaced Dry Softwood Lumber.
March 2018. 44 pages.
- An Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Ready-Mixed Concrete Manufactured by CRMCA Members.
(December 2016)
- EPD for Average Glass Mat Gypsum Panels produced by Gypsum Association member companies for the USA and Canadian Markets. (September 2016) astm.org
- An Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Glass Mat Gypsum Panels for the USA and Canadian Markets
(August 2016)
- A Canadian Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Two Concrete Masonry Unit Products
(August 2016)
- EPD for average primary structural steel frame components – MBMA
(January 2016)
- EPD for average secondary structural steel frame components – MBMA
(January 2016)
- EPD for average roll formed metal wall and roof panels – MBMA
(January 2016)
- EPD for cement products – Capital Aggregates Inc.
(December 2015)
- An Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Precast Concrete Products for the United States and Canadian Markets
September 2019. The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. 39 pages.
- EPD for average precast wall panels – CPCI, NPCA and PCI (September 2015) astm.org
- EPD for average structural precast – CPCI, NPCA and PCI (September 2015) astm.org
- EPD for average underground precast – CPCI, NPCA and PCI (September 2015) astm.org
- EPD for average slag cement – SCA (May 2015) astm.org
- An Industry Average Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Slag Cement for the USA and Canadian Markets.
April 2015. Athena Institute. 32 pages.
- EPD for ready-mixed concrete – Graniterock
(January 2015)
- EPD for average ready-mixed concrete – NRMCA
(October 2014)
- A Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Ready-Mixed Concrete Manufacture by NRMCA Members.
September 2014. Athena Institute. 39 pages.
- EPD for average single-ply PVC roofing membrane – CFFA
(August 2014)
- Technical Brief: An Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Portland-Limestone and Ordinary Portland Cements in Concrete
Jan 2014. L. Bushi and J. Meil. 10 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Medium Density Fiberboard.
September 2013. 48 pages.
- Life Cycle Assessment of MBMA Primary and Secondary Structural Steel and Wall and Roof Panels Products
April 2013. Jamie Meil and Lindita Bushi. 170 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Particleboard.
September 2013. 49 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Wood I-Joist Manufacture.
April 2013. 47 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Laminated Veneer Lumber Manufacture (LVL).
September 2018. 32 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Laminated Veneer Lumber Manufacture.
April 2013. 39 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).
February 2013. 37 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Oriented Strand Board.
October 2012. 51 pages.
- Life Cycle Assessment for Sustainable Design of Precast Concrete Commercial Buildings in Canada.
June 2012. Marceau, M.; Bushi, L.; Meil, J.; and M. Bowick. 1st International Specialty Conference on Sustaining Public Infrastructure, Edmonton, Alberta, June 6-9, 2012.
- A Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Analysis of 1/2″ Regular and 5/8″ Type X Gypsum Wallboard.
December 2011. 152 pages.
- Life Cycle Assessment of UBC Biological Sciences Complex Renew Project.
July 2011. The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in association with Recollective Consulting. 146 pages.
- LCA for Existing Historic Buildings.
July 2009. Athena Institute and Morrison Hershfield Ltd. 33 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Particleboard.
July 2009. 93 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Medium Density Fiberboard.
May 2009. 95 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Softwood Lumber.
April 2009. 143 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Softwood Plywood Sheathing.
March 2008. 86 pages.
- A Cradle-to-Gate LCA of Canadian Oriented Strand Board.
March 2008. 87 pages.
- Life Cycle Inventory of Five Products Produced From Polylactide (PLA) and Petroleum-Based Resins. November 2006. Summary report
21 pages. Technical Report
110 pages.
- A Life Cycle Perspective on Concrete and Asphalt Roadways: Embodied Primary Energy and Global Warming Potential.
September 2006. Athena Institute. 68 pages.
- Cement and Structural Concrete Products: Life Cycle Inventory Update #2.
2005. 185 pages.
- Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory for Canadian and US Steel Production by Mill Type.
March 2002. 171 pages.
- Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Effects for Building Envelope Materials.
January 2002. 69 pages.
- Cradle-to-Gate Life Cycle Inventory for Exterior Stucco Finishes.
October 2001. 44 pages.
- A Life Cycle Inventory of Selected Commercial Roofing Products.
April 2001. 40 pages.
- A Life Cycle Inventory for Road and Roofing Asphalt.
March 2001. 58 pages.
- Life Cycle Analysis of Asphalt Impregnated Fiberglass Built-Up Roofing Felts.
March 2001. 15 pages.
- Life Cycle Inventory of ICI Roofing Systems: On-site Construction Effects.
March 2001. 40 pages.
- Life Cycle Analysis of Residential Roofing Products.
March 2000. 96 pages.
- An Exploratory Life Cycle Study of Selected Building Envelope Materials.
June 1999. 117 pages.
- Life Cycle Analysis of Brick and Mortar Products.
September 1998. 114 pages.
- Life Cycle Analysis of Gypsum Wallboard and Associated Finishing Products.
March 1997. 150 pages.
Environmental Building Declarations
- Environmental Building Declaration – ICCU Arena, University of Idaho, Moscow Technical Report
January 2023. Athena Institute. 23 pages.
- About Environmental Building Declarations – An Athena Institute Briefing Note.
April 2018. Athena Institute. 3 pages.
- Environmental Building Declaration – Brock Commons Tallwood House, University of British Columbia Technical Report
January 2018. Athena Institute. 57 pages. Summary Brochure
Februrary 2017. Athena Institute. 2 pages.
- Environmental Building Declaration – Ponderosa Commons Cedar House, University of British Columbia Technical Report
January 2018. Athena Institute. 59 pages. Summary Brochure
March 2017. Athena Institute. 2 pages.
- Environmental Building Declaration – Design Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Technical Report
January 2017. Athena Institute. 54 pages. Summary Brochure
January 2017. Athena Institute. 1 page.
- Environmental Building Declaration – The Wood Innovation and Design Centre Technical Report
April 2015. Athena Institute. 55 pages. Summary Brochure
March 2015. Athena Institute. 1 page.
- Environmental Building Declaration – The Lafarge Innovation Hub Technical Report
August 2014. Athena Institute. 25 pages. Summary Brochure
August 2014. Athena Institute. 1 page.
- Environmental Building Declaration – The Enermodal Office Building Technical Report
May 2013. Athena Institute. 25 pages. Supplementary Report: LCA Comparison
May 2013. M. Bowick. 19 pages.
Carbon footprint
- Using Synergies between ISO 14064-1 GHG Standard and LCA Methodology for Quantification of Carbon Footprint for Western Red Cedar Shake & Shingle Manufacturing Facility and Products.
October 2008. Bushi, L.; Meil. J.; Rutledge, M., ACLCA LCA VIII Conference, Seattle, October 2, 2008.
- Estimating the Required Global Warming Offsets to Achieve a Carbon Neutral Synthetic Field Turf System Installation.
June 2006. Jamie Meil and Lindita Bushi. 9 pages.
Other Publications
- A Proposed Construction Product Nomenclature for Use in LCA for Buildings
November 2023. Athena Institute. 21 pages.
- Whole-building LCA benchmarking infrastructure: Method and workplan for a bill of materials database
March 2022. Athena Institute. 48 pages.
- Whole-building LCA guidelines and benchmarking initiative.
May 2020. Athena Institute program description. 10 pages.
- What can we do about embodied carbon?
February 2020. Canadian Architect magazine (article). 4 pages
- Reducing embodied environmental impacts of buildings: Policy options and technical infrastructure
December 2019. Athena Institute white paper. 16 pages.
- Limitations of EPDs for product comparisons
December 2019. Athena Institute briefing note. 4 pages.
- LCA Roadmap for Roads and Bridges
March 2018. Athena Institute. 31 pages.
- Whole-building LCA benchmarking white paper
November 2017. Matt Bowick, Jennifer O’Connor and Jamie Meil. 54 pages.
- Carbon footprint benchmarking of BC multi-unit residential buildings.
May 2017. Matt Bowick and Jennifer O’Connor. 50 pages.
- Service Life Assessment of Low-Slope Unpainted 55% Al-Zn Alloy-Coated Steel Standing Seam Metal Roof Systems.
December 2014. 37 pages.
- Enhanced recovery of roofing materials. Briefing paper on quantity of roofing scrap in Canada and potential uses of this waste under various economic and environmental drivers.
January 2007. 57 pages.
- Service life considerations in relation to green building rating systems.
April 2006. Athena Institute and Morrison Hershfield. 49 pages.
- A Business Case for Green Buildings in Canada.
March 2005. M. Lucuik, W. Trusty, N. Larsson and R. Charette.
- Minnesota Demolition Survey: Phase Two (building service life study).
February 2004. Athena Institute. 23 pages.
- Demolition Energy Analysis of Office Building Structural Systems.
March 1997. 106 pages.
- Assessing the Relative Ecological Carrying Capacity Impacts of Resource Extraction.
August 1994. 72 pages.