Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions
The construction industry plays a significant role in global warming, accounting for 42% of primary energy use and 39% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a key methodology for evaluating environmental impacts throughout a building’s life cycle, ye...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1612 |
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| author | Deepak Kumar Kranti Kumar Maurya Shailendra K. Mandal Basit A. Mir Anissa Nurdiawati Sami G. Al-Ghamdi |
| author_facet | Deepak Kumar Kranti Kumar Maurya Shailendra K. Mandal Basit A. Mir Anissa Nurdiawati Sami G. Al-Ghamdi |
| author_sort | Deepak Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The construction industry plays a significant role in global warming, accounting for 42% of primary energy use and 39% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a key methodology for evaluating environmental impacts throughout a building’s life cycle, yet its integration in the early design phase remains limited. This review aims to examine strategies and tools for incorporating LCA in the early design phase to enhance sustainability in building construction. The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify the main challenges in integrating LCA into early design workflows, (2) to analyze and compare LCA tools suitable for early-stage assessments, and (3) to explore emerging trends and technological advancements. A systematic literature review was employed using the Scopus database to analyze existing literature, identifying current practices, challenges, and technological advancements in early-stage LCA implementation. A total of 56 studies were identified for the review. The results highlight the growing adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and parametric modeling in streamlining LCA integration. Despite these advancements, barriers such as data scarcity, lack of standardization, and interoperability issues persist. Key findings suggest that simplified and computational LCA tools can improve accessibility and real-time decision-making during early-stage design. The study concludes that enhancing data availability, refining methodologies, and fostering collaboration between architects, engineers, and policymakers are crucial for mainstreaming LCA in sustainable building design. This review provides actionable insights to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and early-stage design decisions and framework, ultimately supporting a more environmentally responsible construction industry. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-25f2c906eec14268ad55d906f2302f11 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-25f2c906eec14268ad55d906f2302f112025-08-20T03:47:53ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-05-011510161210.3390/buildings15101612Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future DirectionsDeepak Kumar0Kranti Kumar Maurya1Shailendra K. Mandal2Basit A. Mir3Anissa Nurdiawati4Sami G. Al-Ghamdi5Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Architecture and Planning, NIT Patna, Bihar 800005, IndiaDepartment of Architecture and Planning, NIT Patna, Bihar 800005, IndiaEnvironmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaEnvironmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaEnvironmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi ArabiaThe construction industry plays a significant role in global warming, accounting for 42% of primary energy use and 39% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a key methodology for evaluating environmental impacts throughout a building’s life cycle, yet its integration in the early design phase remains limited. This review aims to examine strategies and tools for incorporating LCA in the early design phase to enhance sustainability in building construction. The objectives of this study are: (1) to identify the main challenges in integrating LCA into early design workflows, (2) to analyze and compare LCA tools suitable for early-stage assessments, and (3) to explore emerging trends and technological advancements. A systematic literature review was employed using the Scopus database to analyze existing literature, identifying current practices, challenges, and technological advancements in early-stage LCA implementation. A total of 56 studies were identified for the review. The results highlight the growing adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and parametric modeling in streamlining LCA integration. Despite these advancements, barriers such as data scarcity, lack of standardization, and interoperability issues persist. Key findings suggest that simplified and computational LCA tools can improve accessibility and real-time decision-making during early-stage design. The study concludes that enhancing data availability, refining methodologies, and fostering collaboration between architects, engineers, and policymakers are crucial for mainstreaming LCA in sustainable building design. This review provides actionable insights to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and early-stage design decisions and framework, ultimately supporting a more environmentally responsible construction industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1612Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)early design phaseembodied carbon (EC)greenhouse gases (GHGs)Global Warming Potential (GWP)building |
| spellingShingle | Deepak Kumar Kranti Kumar Maurya Shailendra K. Mandal Basit A. Mir Anissa Nurdiawati Sami G. Al-Ghamdi Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions Buildings Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) early design phase embodied carbon (EC) greenhouse gases (GHGs) Global Warming Potential (GWP) building |
| title | Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions |
| title_full | Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions |
| title_fullStr | Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions |
| title_short | Life Cycle Assessment in the Early Design Phase of Buildings: Strategies, Tools, and Future Directions |
| title_sort | life cycle assessment in the early design phase of buildings strategies tools and future directions |
| topic | Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) early design phase embodied carbon (EC) greenhouse gases (GHGs) Global Warming Potential (GWP) building |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/10/1612 |
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