Modular Strategies for Including Principles of Sustainability in Engineering

Liv Haselbach, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, M.ASEEhaselbach@wsu.edu

BOK2 Outcome 10 Levels of Cognitive Achievement

• Key aspects of sustainability

Define

• Key properties of sustainability

Explain

• Principles of sustainability

Apply

• Systems of engineered works

Analyze

Breadth (Inspirational, aspirational, holistic)

• University Course

• Civil or Engineering Introductory Courses

Depth (Detailed calculations, methodologies)

• Portions of Traditional CE Analysis Courses

• Dedicated Science or Engineering Courses

Design

• Introductory CE Design or Other Design Courses

• Tool: Envision Rating System

Sustainability incorporated at different levels & times.

Breadth: Overview Modules

Depth: Detailed Modules

Full Course: Both

How might modules help?

Breadth: What is global warming?

Depth: Carbon cycle impacts…

Full Course on LCA

Example with Life Cycle Assessment?

Benefits of ModulesCan be viewed ahead of time for class discussion. (Flipped classroom)

Can be viewed in class with discussion (20 minutes maximum with stops interspersed)

Can be viewed later for review or distance students.

Especially easy to use if narrated and/or with additional materials.

Narrated modules make preparation easier for both the novice and the expert.

Can even include short quizzes, exercises or other ways to interact.

Will discuss at end.

Haselbach, L. and Langfitt, Q. (2016) Incorporating Pre-recorded Environmental

Life Cycle Assessment Modules in a Classroom Setting, accepted Journal of

Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice.

Welcome to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Learning Module Series

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

CESTICC WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY FULBRIGHT

Liv Haselbach Quinn Langfitt

For current modules email haselbach@wsu.edu or visit cem.uaf.edu/CESTiCC

LCA Module Series Groups

Group A: ISO Compliant LCA Overview Modules

Group α: ISO Compliant LCA Detailed Modules

Group B: Environmental Impact Categories Overview Modules

Group β: Environmental Impact Categories Detailed Modules

Group G: General LCA Tools Overview Modules

Group γ: General LCA Tools Detailed Modules

Group T: Transportation-Related LCA Overview Modules

Group τ: Transportation-Related LCA Detailed Modules

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 8

Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment and International Standard ISO 14040

MODULE A1

LCA MODULE A1 902/2015

What is Life Cycle Assessment?

LCA MODULE A1 10

“Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system

throughout its life cycle”*

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)

Process split into life cycle stages and LCA phases• Stages are portions of the product life cycle and phases are the portions of the LCA process

Data collected on inputs and outputs of the system Associated environmental and resource impacts of those inputs and outputs

*ISO 14040:2006

02/2015

Phases of an LCA

LCA MODULE A1 11

Image Sources: Target: wikia.nocookie.net Data: dreamstime.com Earth: business2community.com

Note: For an LCI study LCIA phase is omitted

02/2015

1. Goal and Scope2. Life Cycle Inventory3. Life Cycle Impact

Assessment (LCIA)4. Interpretation

Self-Assessment Quiz

MODULE A1: INTRODUCTION TO LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT AND ISO 14040

How many phases are there in an LCA?

4

6

8

Correct!The phases are:

1. Goal and Scope

2. L i fe Cyc le Inventory

3. L i fe Cyc le Impact Assessment

4. Interpretat ion

What is the first priority of the scientific approach to characterizing impacts?

Social and economic science

Value choices

Natural science

Correct!Natural sciences tend to be more objective and therefore are the first priority in characterizing impacts.

LCA Module Series Groups

Group A: ISO Compliant LCA Overview Modules

Group α: ISO Compliant LCA Detailed Modules

Group B: Environmental Impact Categories Overview Modules

Group β: Environmental Impact Categories Detailed Modules

Group G: General LCA Tools Overview Modules

Group γ: General LCA Tools Detailed Modules

Group T: Transportation-Related LCA Overview Modules

Group τ: Transportation-Related LCA Detailed Modules

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 18

LCA Module Series Groups A and αGroup A: ISO Compliant LCA Overview Modules

Module A1 - Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment and ISO 14040 (February 2015)

Module A2 - LCA Requirements and Guidelines: ISO 14044 (February 2015)

Group α: ISO Compliant LCA Detailed Modules

Module α1 - Goal, Function, and Functional Unit (February 2015)

Module α2 - System, System Boundary, and Allocation (February 2015)

Module α3 - Life Cycle Stages (April 2015)

Module α4 - LCIA Optional Elements: Grouping, Weighing, and Normalization (November 2015)

Module α5 - Data Types and Sources (December 2015)

Module α6 - Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) (December 2015)

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 19

FunctionWhat the product(s) or process(es) is designed to do

Often intuitive◦ However, function must be stated to make it unambiguous

Important to help define the system and functional unit

LCA MODULE α1 20

Generate Light Transport People House Students

Dorm: dci-engineers.com

02/2015

Relating to the functional unit basis

LCA MODULE α1 21

Collect input/output data based on how

much of the function is accomplished

Express inputs/outputs in

terms of one unit of function

Multiply by value of functional unit

Functional unit = 50,000 passenger-miles traveled

Image source: hrc.org

02/2015

Homework1. Write a goal statement for a fictitious LCA of your choosing.

2. Find an LCA in a journal or online and examine its goal statement. Does it cover all necessary information as outlined in ISO 14044? Summarize the statements on the four points, or if any are not included state that.

3. Determine what functional unit should be used for an LCA comparing gasoline and ethanol production (hint: think energy). Explain your choice.

4. Consider the use stage of a life cycle assessment on an incandescent light bulb. Assume that the only flow within the system during that stage is the electricity needed to operate the bulb. The bulb consumes 1 kWh of electricity to produce 16,000 lumen-hours of light. Each kWh of electricity has the following simplified inputs and outputs to and from nature:

Inputs: 0.356 kg coal

Outputs: 1.01 kg CO2, 1.60×10-3 kg NOx,1.22×10-2 kg SO2, and 9.26×10-6 kg PM10

Considering the functional unit is 20,000,000 lumen hours, convert the LCI data into the quantities of inputs and outputs based on the functional unit.

LCA MODULE α1 2202/2015

LCA Module Series Groups B and βGroup B: Environmental Impact Categories Overview Modules

Module B1 - Introduction to Impact Categories (April 2015)

Module B2 - Common Air Emissions Impact Categories (March 2015)

Module B3 - Other Common Emissions Impact Categories (March 2015)

Group β: Environmental Impact Categories Detailed Modules

Module β1 - Global Warming Potential (December 2015)

Module β2 - Acidification Potential (September 2015)

Module β3 - Ozone Depletion Potential (September 2015)

Module β4 - Smog Creation Potential (September 2015)

Module β5 - Eutrophication Potential (September 2015)

Module β6 - Human Toxicity and Ecotoxicity Potential (October 2015)

Module β7 – Human Health Particulate Matter (September 2015)

Module β9 – Impact Assessment Methodologies (October 2015)

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 23

04/2015 LCA MODULE B1 24

Common Emissions Impact Categories

Acidification Potential (AP)

Ecotoxicity Potential (ETP)

Eutrophication Potential (EP) (Also: Nutrification)

Global Warming Potential (GWP) (Also: Climate Change)

Human Toxicity Cancer Potential (HTCP) (Also: Human Health Cancer)

Human Toxicity Non-Cancer Potential (HTNCP) (Also: Human Health Non-Cancer)

Human Health Criteria Air Potential (HHCAP) (Also: Human Health Particulates)

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Potential (OPD) (Also: Ozone Layer Depletion)

Smog Creation Potential (SCP) (Also: Photochemical Ozone Creation)

Some can be partitioned further into:• Air• Water• Soil

Module B2

Module B3

04/2015 LCA MODULE B1 25

Other impact categories (Ionizing) Radiation Potential

Ecosystem Damage Potential

Abiotic Resource Depletion Potential

Biotic Resource Depletion Potential

Fossil Fuel Depletion Potential

Energy Use

Land Use

Water Use

Landfill Use

Nuisance-related Impacts (odor, sound, etc.)

Indoor Air QualityParticularly uncommon

Global Warming Potential (GWP)Increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, resulting in potential increases in global average surface temperature

Often called climate change to reflect scope of possible effects◦ Climate=long term Weather=short term

Occurs due to potential increased greenhouse effect from increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Some common greenhouse gases (GHGs) include:◦ Carbon dioxide (CO2)

◦ Methane (CH4)

◦ Nitrous oxide (N2O)

◦ Ozone (O3)

◦ Water vapor (H2O) – Usually not considered anthropogenic

26

Figure source: USGCRP (2009). “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States.”

Global

Scale of impacts:

CO2: carbon dioxide

Ch

ange

in A

vera

ge G

lob

al S

urf

ace

Tem

per

atu

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Based on one projection under various emissions scenarios

LCA MODULE β112/2015

Greenhouse EffectTrapping of heat in by the troposphere by greenhouse gases due to differences in interaction with long wave and short wave radiation (acts like a blanket)

◦ Incoming radiation from the sun (long wave) is mostly allowed to pass through

◦ Outgoing re-radiated heat from the surface (short wave) is partially blocked

◦ Balance called radiative forcing

Some greenhouse effect needed to sustain natural temperatures

Additional effect from human activity is the concern

27

Figure source: livescience.com

LCA MODULE β112/2015

Possible Global Climate Change Effects??

28

Magnitudes of effects (endpoints) are more difficult to predict. These are just possible scenarios.

Figure source: epa.gov

LCA MODULE β112/2015

Global Warming Potential Example Calculation

29

GHG emissions inventory=14.9 g of CH4, 31.0 mg of N2O, 2.35 kg of CO2Calculate the global warming potential in kg CO2-equivalent (kg CO2e).

1. Look up 100-year characterization factors for CH4, N2O, and CO2• Methane (CH4): 25 kg CO2-eq per kg CH4• Nitrous Oxide (N2O): 298 kg CO2-eq per kg of N2O• Carbon Dioxide (CO2): 1 kg CO2-eq per kg of CO2

2. Convert emissions to kg CO2-eq

• 14.9 𝑔 𝐶𝐻41 𝑘𝑔

1000 𝑔

25 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2−𝑒𝑞

1 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝐻4= 0.37 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2 − 𝑒𝑞

• 31.0 𝑚𝑔 𝑁2𝑂1 𝑘𝑔

106𝑚𝑔

298 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2−𝑒𝑞

1 𝑘𝑔 𝑁2𝑂= 0.01 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2 − 𝑒𝑞

3. Sum all emissions in kg CO2-eq to find global warming potential:• 0.37 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2𝑒

𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝐻4

+ 0.01 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑁2𝑂

+ 2.35 𝑘𝑔 𝐶𝑂2𝑒𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐶𝑂2

= 𝟐. 𝟕𝟑 𝒌𝒈 𝑪𝑶𝟐 − 𝒆𝒒

LCA MODULE β112/2015

LCA Module Series Groups

Group G: General LCA Tools Overview Modules

Module G1 - General Paid LCA Software Tools (February 2015)

Module G2 - General Free LCA Software Tools (March 2015)

Module G3 - Transportation LCA Software Tools (October 2015)

Group γ: General LCA Tools Detailed Modules (Transportation details are in the τ group)

Module γ1 - EIO-LCA Tutorial and Links to GaBi Tutorials (October 2015)

Module γ2 - Building LCA Software Tutorial (October 2015)

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 30

Transportation LCACommon Topics

31

Transport LCA Topics of Interest

Pavement

Roadway Maint.

Vehicles

Fuels

Modal Choice

Infra-structure

*Not an exhaustive list of topics

LCA MODULE G310/2015

Transportation LCAMany transportation “life cycle assessments” are not truly LCAs by the ISO standard

◦ Many studies only inventory regulated emissions, greenhouse gases, and energy

◦ Sometimes reported as the quantities of emissions, sometimes as impact category indicators

◦ Why are these limited inventories common?

◦ Many database tools are focused on these types of emissions since they are generally what is mandated in regulations

◦ Therefore, easy data accessibility for these data points compared to a more exhaustive LCI

◦ This is not to say that there aren’t transportation LCAs with full inventories and impact category characterization

32

CO2

(carbon dioxide)

CH4

(methane)

N2O (nitrous oxide)

SO2

(sulfur dioxide)

CO(carbon monoxide)

NOx

(nitrogen oxides)

VOCs(volatile organics)

PM(particulate matter)

Pb (lead) (less common)

Common Greenhouse Gases

Regulated Emissions

LCA MODULE G310/2015

Some Transportation “LCA” Software Tools

33

The Greenhouse Gas, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model (GREET)

Fuel and Emissions Calculator (FEC)

The Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment Tool for Environmental and Economic Effects (PaLATE)

Athena Impact Estimator for Highways

LCA MODULE G310/2015

LCA Module Series Groups

Group T: Transportation-Related LCA Overview Modules

Module T1 - Introduction to Transportation LCA and Literature Review (December 2015)

Group τ: Transportation-Related LCA Detailed Modules

Module τ3 – GREET Tutorial (November 2015)

Module τ4 – Athena Impact Estimator for Highways (October 2015)

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 34

Topics

12/2015 LCA MODULE T1 35

Considerations include◦ Raw materials (aggregate, binders, etc.)

◦ Construction

◦ Pavement-vehicle interaction (for roads)

◦ Preservation

◦ Removed material

Some relevant software◦ The Pavement Life-Cycle Assessment Tool for Environmental and Economic Effects (PaLATE)

◦ Athena Impact Estimator for Highways

◦ ECORCE (French acronym for ECO-comparator applied to Road Construction and Maintenance)

Pavement

Vehicles

Fuel

Other Infrastructure

Pavement

Asphalt: transportation.ky.govConcrete: www.sddot.com

TopicsPavement

Vehicles

Fuel

Other Infrastructure

36

Pavement Study Listing (Sample)Author(s) Year Title

Weiland and Muench

2010Life Cycle Assessment of Cement Concrete Interstate Highway Rehabilitation and Replacement

Anastasiou et al.

2012Comparative life cycle assessment of concrete road pavements using industrial by-products as alternative materials

Butt 2012Life cycle assessment of asphalt pavements including the feedstock energy and asphalt additives

Horvath 2003Life-Cycle Environmental and Economic Assessment of Using Recycled Materials for Asphalt Pavements

Yu and Lu 2014 Estimation of albedo effect in pavement life cycle assessment

Stripple 2001 Life Cycle Assessment of Road: A Pilot Study for Inventory Analysis

Yu and Lu 2012 Life cycle assessment of pavement: Methodology and case study

Noshadravanet al.

2013Comparative pavement life cycle assessment with parameter uncertainty

Gschösser and Willbaum

2013 Life Cycle Assessment of Representative Swiss Road Pavements for National Roads with an Accompanying Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Kucukvar and Tatari

2012Ecologically based hybrid life cycle analysis of continuously reinforced concrete and hot-mix asphalt pavements

Co

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Asp

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LCA MODULE T112/2015

Starting a NewProject

37

More tabs across the top

Construction equipment◦ Edit the equipment used for

roadway construction

◦ Fuel consumption

◦ Production rates

◦ Load factor

◦ Working time per day

Material Transportation◦ Modes of material transport

◦ Distances of transport

10/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

RoadwayOperatingEnergy Consumption

3810/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

39

Add Road-Way

10/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

40

Overall Roadway Design and Dimensions

10/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

41

Roadway Materials Selection

10/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

Pavement-Vehicle Interaction

42

Uses MIT’s “PVI Mechanistic Model Gen II”

10/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

Calculating Results

4310/2015 LCA MODULE τ4

LCA Module Series GroupsGroups A and α : ISO Compliant LCA Overview and Detailed Modules

Group B and β: Environmental Impact Categories Overview and Detailed Modules

Group G and γ : General LCA Tools Overview and Detailed Modules

Group T and τ : Transportation-Related LCA Overview and Detailed Modules

Future Plans Dependent on Funding:

More β and τ detailed modules.

Encourage submissions of case studies, updates to literature, additional modules.

Encourage collaborations to use LCA in research.

Encourage educational applications, especially as ABET requires sustainability in design.

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 44

Educational Uses of Narrated LCA ModulesEvaluated use in a classroom as main lectures for 3 credit graduate course at WSU:

◦ Main takes: 20 minutes pre-recorded are great in a classroom, but need discussion with it and best to insert discussion at several points within the playback.

◦ Haselbach, L. and Langfitt, Q. (2016) Incorporating Pre-recorded Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Modules in a Classroom Setting, accepted Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice.

Also used internationally for a 1 credit class in Brazil.

Breadth: Some overview modules are planned to be used in an introduction to engineering class at WSU, with two modules watched outside of class followed by classroom discussion and activities.

Depth: Some detailed modules could be used in upper-level classes for more depth.

Design. May preliminarily aid in design decisions…..but full LCAs are complex to perform.

Benefits: Reduced preparation time for both novices and experts in the topics!

12/2015OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES

45

CESTiCC Washington State University Fulbright

12/2015 OVERVIEW OF LCA MODULE SERIES 46

For current modules email haselbach@wsu.edu or visit cem.uaf.edu/CESTiCC