Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment

Prepared by the WBLCA Guide Special Project Working Group of the Sustainability Committee of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE.

Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment: Reference Building Structure and Strategies serves as a guide for the project team to define and model the structural system within the reference building design as required by green building standards and rating systems.

The book is organized in two parts. The first part sets out terms of reference including definitions, reference building options, and general considerations in reference building design. The second part describes specific strategies the structural engineer may employ to reduce life cycle impacts on a project.

Whereas whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) is a relatively new application of life cycle assessment (LCA), this book aims to guide and encourage structural engineers to take an active and meaningful role in green building development.