Building Materials: Life Cycle Analysis.

Life Cycle Analysis is calculated by adding the embodied energy of construction to the building's lifetime energy usage i.e. heating, cooling, cooking, applainces, lighting, hot water system, maintenance and demolition.

The quality and durability of a products increase the life span of the building and reduces the maintainance and replacement costs. These benefits will effect the life cycle analysis. It is therefore an environmental as well as financial benefit to build with products that have high durability.

In some cases a product with a high-embodied energy may be an appropriate choice because of its ability to reduce the life cycle cost of a building. For example, concrete has a high embodied energy, but used as a thermal mass and durability will reduce the life cycle cost of the building by reducing active heating and cooling costs to the building, and reducing maintainance over the building's life.

The Newton House was designed to achieve maximum benefit in the maintenance, durability, embodied energy, life cycle analysis and payback period, through building products selection and house design.

Links

http://www.umich.edu/~nppcpub/research/lcahome/
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs31.htm