Life Cycle Assessment of a Smart Building: Energy Optimization Integration

Fueled by ever-increasing urbanization today, the construction sector is a major contributor to negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, ozone depletion, and carbon footprint. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a systematic method used for the evaluation of the environmental impacts of a building throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal at end-of-life stage. Early implementation of LCA principles in the design phase of a project aids stakeholders in the decision making process by allowing targeted interventions by seeking sustainable strategies in material selection. The pursuit of sustainability in LCA applications engenders the possibility for smart buildings – the integration of technology in the building design process, yielding increased levels of performance and efficiency. Smart building initiatives further extend the focus of energy optimization in buildings through utilization of and enhanced operational efficiency throughout a building’s lifecycle. The paper presents the beginning steps in a case study concentrating on the principles of life cycle assessment of smart buildings and methods to better optimize energy consumption.