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The importance of including secondary effects when defining the system boundary with life cycle perspective : Case study for design of an external wall

Ylmén, Peter LU ; Berlin, Johanna ; Mjörnell, Kristina LU and Arfvidsson, Jesper LU (2017) In Journal of Cleaner Production 143. p.1105-1113
Abstract

Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis are suitable tools in trying to minimize environmental impact and cost. To get reliable results it is crucial to set up correct system boundaries for the investigation, but it is often difficult to understand a complex products system because of the cascade effects of consequences that can be induced even by small changes. In this paper the effects and consequences evaluation (ECE) method is introduced to systematically identify and organize the effects and consequences for a design change of parts of a complex system. The method is applied in a case study of external wall insulation for a new building to investigate the importance of correct system boundaries. Using the methodical... (More)

Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis are suitable tools in trying to minimize environmental impact and cost. To get reliable results it is crucial to set up correct system boundaries for the investigation, but it is often difficult to understand a complex products system because of the cascade effects of consequences that can be induced even by small changes. In this paper the effects and consequences evaluation (ECE) method is introduced to systematically identify and organize the effects and consequences for a design change of parts of a complex system. The method is applied in a case study of external wall insulation for a new building to investigate the importance of correct system boundaries. Using the methodical approach in identifying all significant consequences showed that unexpected unit processes can be important when deciding on the relevant system boundary. We also conclude that such processes can have a significant impact on the final results by calculating the change in global warming potential and life cycle cost for the processes affected by the design option.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Building, External wall, Global warming, Life cycle assessment, Life cycle cost assessment, System boundary
in
Journal of Cleaner Production
volume
143
pages
9 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85008169591
  • wos:000392789000099
ISSN
0959-6526
DOI
10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7881baf6-8e82-46f1-8d6c-291c7b261721
date added to LUP
2017-02-06 08:31:44
date last changed
2024-01-13 13:03:03
@article{7881baf6-8e82-46f1-8d6c-291c7b261721,
  abstract     = {{<p>Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis are suitable tools in trying to minimize environmental impact and cost. To get reliable results it is crucial to set up correct system boundaries for the investigation, but it is often difficult to understand a complex products system because of the cascade effects of consequences that can be induced even by small changes. In this paper the effects and consequences evaluation (ECE) method is introduced to systematically identify and organize the effects and consequences for a design change of parts of a complex system. The method is applied in a case study of external wall insulation for a new building to investigate the importance of correct system boundaries. Using the methodical approach in identifying all significant consequences showed that unexpected unit processes can be important when deciding on the relevant system boundary. We also conclude that such processes can have a significant impact on the final results by calculating the change in global warming potential and life cycle cost for the processes affected by the design option.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ylmén, Peter and Berlin, Johanna and Mjörnell, Kristina and Arfvidsson, Jesper}},
  issn         = {{0959-6526}},
  keywords     = {{Building; External wall; Global warming; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle cost assessment; System boundary}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{02}},
  pages        = {{1105--1113}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Cleaner Production}},
  title        = {{The importance of including secondary effects when defining the system boundary with life cycle perspective : Case study for design of an external wall}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.009}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.009}},
  volume       = {{143}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}