CLOSED CONSULTATION
To address the absence of a national database for generic LCA data on construction materials such as exists in other countries, IGBC intend to provide guidance on the use of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data and which will be used as the starting point for a new national database of materials for Ireland.
The aim is to ensure comparability of LCAs ensuring that, in the absence of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), that standard default figures are used for common materials. It is also intended to stimulate the market to provide more accurate figures through verified EPD either for specific products or sectoral EPDs.
The Irish Green Building Council, in collaboration with other Green Building Councils across Europe, have commissioned research into carbon impacts under the LifeLevel(s) Project. Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) UK have been commissioned to deliver the research into carbon impacts of the following common construction products:
- Aggregates
- Cement
- Steel
- Aluminium
- Glass
- Timber
- Brick
The research covering Ireland, Italy, and Croatia is similar to a study carried out by Ecometro for Spain. The report here provides a number of data sets which have been developed for commonly used materials as listed above.
The aim of this consultation process is to gather stakeholder feedback on the research carried out to date for this report, based on the following questions:
- Do you see the necessity of a national database?
- Are there any other materials for which Irish specific generic datasets would provide more representative data?
- Do you agree with the methodology used to create the data? Are there any concerns with any dataset?
- Do you agree with the approach to the use of safety margins for use in generic data? Should this be different for use in procurement versus for calculation of building level LCA as suggested?
- Are there additional datasets that should be included in the future.
- What do you think IGBC should do next with the recommendations?
- Anything else would like to add
We invite you to send your comments and observations to Deirdre Joyce before the Wednesday 14th of July, 2021 with [Carbon data consult] [your name/org] in the subject line. You can read the report here. Download the submission form here.
