Chapter 4 LCA as Decision Support

1. Chapter 4 LCA as Decision Support

2. 4.1 Role of LCA in Decision Support • What is a decision support tool • Maybe spreadsheet on corn input costs • Spreadsheet on forming a business • In general • Quantifiable data in, quantifiable numbers out • No uncertainty in data, no uncertainty in results • Fuzzy data in, fuzzy data out

3. Example • Bring kudzo in as an alternative forage for the southern US • Bush honeysuckle for fence rows – weed

4. 4.2 Approach to Sustainability • Analytical approach • Examine system • Identify environmental impacts • Address impacts • Envisioning approach • What does sustainability mean or what does it look like in the future • Now find a way to move from now to the future

5. Natural Step Framework • Defining framework for sustainability – put problem into context • Analyze present conditions related to framework • Envision future sustainable scenarios • Identify strategies to sustainable future

6. Strength of LCA • Provides quantifiable results • Reveals exact location where change is needed to fix environmental issue • Difficulty is with scope/boundary of LCA

7. 4.3 Problem Definition • Narrow problem definition – narrow conclusion (perhaps inappropriate conclusion) • Sometimes narrow problems are ok • Biomass harvest systems • Maybe we don’t include producing fuel for the car • Focus on the harvest side

8. 4.3.1 Example Yarra Valley Water • Anyone have to use a dictionary? • Compare existing water supply with household rainwater tanks • Tanks did not make sense • However they made sense for new installations • Therefore the network should not be expanded • Question redefined on how to save water • Therefore other options were looked at

9. 4.3.2 Yalumba (wine) • Environmental impact of different wine casks (in Australian – bag in box) • Question expanded to include wine bottles to casks • Bottles less volume – appear to be worse • Did not take into account market – customer's where higher end • Functional unit defined as $50 of wine

10. 4.4 Focus on Functionality • Washing clothes – little room to improve efficiency of washer • Room to address consumer behavior • Detergent use • Load size • Drying and ironing • Could charge per use – increase load size • Generalize further – commercial laundery

11. Functionality cont • Could further expand to provide adequate clothing • Types of fabrics • Wear • Moisture • Odor • Warmth or UV protection

12. 4.5 Challenging Consumption • Focusing on functionality could justify consumption • Do we really need x? • Buy a fuel efficient car might mean I drive more (since I have the money to) • Buy an efficient clothes dryer – but what about hanging on the clothes line • Savings from “green” products usually not as great as predicted

13. Consumption cont. • Money people save is usually spent on other things • I bought a Corolla instead of a F450 • I save money and energy • But I use some of the money to buy an LCD TV

14. 4.6 Non Result of LCA • Input/output behavior from system can be used to predict real effects • Most countries have extensive economic databases • No option makes difference in the environmental impact • Would imply that activity is unsustainable • Wine?

15. 4.7 Depth of the Product System • Natural versus unnatural • Agriculture is natural, except • But fuel consumption by tractors • Chemicals • Fertilizers

16. Sources of Data • Guidelines for National GHG Inventories - http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/index.html • US Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report - http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html