A parametric method for building design optimization based on Life Cycle Assessment - Appendix

The building sector is responsible for a large share of human environmental impacts, over which architects and planners have a major influence. The main objective of this thesis is to develop a method for environmental building design optimization based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that is applicable as part of the design process. The research approach includes a thorough analysis of LCA for buildings in relation to the architectural design stages and the establishment of a requirement catalogue. The key concept of the novel method called Parametric Life Cycle Assessment(PLCA) is to combine LCA with parametric design. The application of this method to three examples shows that building designs can be optimized time-efficiently and holistically from the beginning of the most influential early design stages, an achievement which has not been possible until now