The Athena research collaborative works with product manufacturers, building designers and other construction sector stakeholders on a wide variety of fee-for-service LCA-based research projects to enable smaller footprints for the construction sector.
Below are some sample research projects undertaken by the Athena team. For a full discussion of Athena’s unique approach to contract research, visit our <LCA Contract Research page.>
Athena Impact Estimator for Highways
The Athena team is developing a variant of its acclaimed Impact Estimator for Buildings software to meet a new and growing demand for infrastructure sustainability: the Athena Impact Estimator for Highways is a prototype LCA-based software package that measures environmental impact of roadway designs. The software tool was developed in association with transportation engineers at Morrison Hershfield, and was funded by Environment Canada, the Cement Association of Canada and the Athena Institute. Still under development, the new tool is available for demonstration purposes. The Athena Institute is interested in hearing from potential partners in the further development of this tool for customized needs.
<For more information>
US Life Cycle Inventory Database
The Athena Institute was one of the original creators of the US Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) Database developed in cooperation with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the US Department of Energy. Maintained by NREL, the Database provides individual gate-to-gate, cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave accounting of the energy and material flows into and out of the environment that are associated with producing a material, component, or assembly in the U.S. Work continues on this public/private partnership. <Visit the US LCI Database 
>
LCA for Existing Historic Buildings
Conducted for Parks Canada in association with Morrison Hershfield Limited, this study compared the effects of keeping historic buildings versus building new structures in the same locations. The study concluded that significant environmental impacts that can be avoided by preserving an existing building instead of demolishing it and building new. Four Canadian buildings were assessed using the Athena EcoCalculator. July 2009. 33 pages. <
Read report >
New Canadian Wood Product Reports
In 2008, FPInnovations, Forintek Division, and the Athena Institute undertook a joint study of the energy consumption in the Canadian solid wood products sector to support the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) initiative to develop an energy efficiency campaign for the solid wood sector. The study was limited to five Canadian wood product sector commodity products: softwood lumber; softwood plywood; oriented strand board; particleboard; and medium density fiberboard. Note: the reported results are based on the economic allocation method, with each report containing a sensitivity analysis contrasting the economic allocation method with the alternative mass allocation method.
Read reports:
<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.
<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.
Enhanced Recovery of Roofing Materials
This study, conducted for the Canadian Construction Innovation Council, looked at the recovery of end-of-life roofing materials. The briefing paper available here is intended as an introductory status update on the quantity of roofing scrap available in Canada, potential end-uses for this scrap, and the various economic and environmental drivers that may influence future recycling and reuse. January 2007. 57 pages. <Read report >
Plastic Products LCA
The Athena Institute commissioned this study of petroleum- and bio-based plastics, carried out by Franklin Associates. The report provides comparative life cycle inventory (LCI) results for the production of various kinds of plastic consumer products made from petroleum- and bio-based resins. November 2006. Summary Report 21 pages; Technical Report 110 pages.
<Read summary report > <Read technical report >
A Life Cycle Perspective on Concrete and Asphalt Roadways
In 2006, the Athena Institute prepared this updated and expanded report for the Cement Association of Canada on our study of the life cycle embodied energy and global warming emissions for rigid Portland cement and flexible asphalt concrete roadway alternatives in various Canadian regions. The report encompasses asphalt and Portland cement-based comparisons of Canadian arterial roads and high volume highways designs, an “as built” Quebec freeway, and a tangent section of Highway 401 in Ontario over a 50-year life cycle planning timeframe. September 2006, 68 pages. <Read report >
Upper Canada College Carbon Neutral Synthetic Field Turf System
In June 2006, Upper Canada College in Toronto took the initiative to offset the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to the life cycle of the artificial turf field installed on their campus. The Athena Institute provided the school with an estimate of the GHGs emitted during the life cycle of the synthetic turf system as opposed to a natural grass surface. June 2006. 9 pages. <Read report >
Service Life Exploratory Study
This project was the exploratory phase of a study of durability and service life issues related to green building, undertaken by the Athena Institute in collaboration with Morrison Hershfield Limited, with sponsorship from nine North American organizations. The overall objective of the project was to determine how service life criteria can be appropriately included in green building rating systems such as LEED and Green Globes. April 2006. 49 pages. <Read report >
A Business Case for Green Buildings in Canada
Prepared in association with Morrision Hershfield Limited for Industry Canada, this Business Case defines the state of the green building industry in Canada, provides a basis for recognizing the many unique and tangible benefits a green building might offer, and explores the challenges and barriers facing the Canadian industry. It also reflects an extensive search of published and unpublished studies focusing on the nature and benefits of green buildings. March 2005. 68 pages. <Read report >
Regent Park Project
Regent Park is a 70-acre site in downtown Toronto, Canada, built in the late 1940s as a ‘garden community’ providing low income housing. The city government developed a plan to demolish and rebuild Regent Park over 10 years, starting in the fall of 2005. The Athena Institute was retained to provide sustainability/economic advice and guidance, especially in relation to life cycle costing and the pros and cons of green roofs. June 2004. (Confidential Client Report)
Minnesota Demolition Survey
Conducted for Forintek Canada Corp., this project studied approximately 230 commercial and residential buildings that had been demolished in St. Paul, Minnesota between the years 2000 and 2003. The study looked at reasons for demolition of the buildings relative to their age and structural systems. Phase II Report, February 2004. 23 pages. <Read report >
EcoSmart Concrete Project
In this 2004 project the Athena team studied a 22-storey condominium development in downtown Vancouver to determine the feasibility of including more semi-cementatious materials in concrete. The study compared four different structural systems in terms of cost, greenhouse gas emissions and embodied energy. January 2004. (Confidential Client Report)
