Life Cycle Analysis is a tool for understanding the environmental impact (represented by a series of outcomes such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, etc.) of a material or product, coupled with first and future economic costs, from resource extraction to ultimate disposal. The LCA process has emerged as a resource for industrial design, especially when used with robust datasets.

This session will discuss the application of LCA to the building design realm, and what limitations arise in that application. Using persistent bioaccumulative toxins as an example, this session will show that the conventional LCA approach can result in outcome bias. Given this bias, supplementary tools are needed. Finally, this session will discuss the role of the Precautionary Principle when making product and building design decisions.

We will be offering this session again in 2009 if you missed the live session in July, 2008. Sessions are $75 for Cascadia members and $90 for nonmembers.