Towards an Automated Approach for Compiling Hybrid Life Cycle Inventories

Crawford, Robert H.; Bontinck, Paul-Antoine; Stephan, André; Wiedmann, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2017.04.175

Cited by 29 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Addressing the time and complexity involved in the hybridisation process should also be a priority. To this end, Crawford et al (2017a); Crawford et al (2017b) have proposed an approach for automating this process for the PXC method.…”

Section: Discussion and Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid life cycle inventory methods – A review

Crawford

Bontinck

Stephan

et al. 2018

Journal of Cleaner Production

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241

174

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A variety of methods can be used to compile a life cycle inventory (LCI) as part of a life cycle assessment (LCA) study. Hybrid LCI methods attempt to address the limitations inherent in more traditional process and input-output (IO) LCI methods. This paper provides an overview of the different hybrid LCI methods currently in use in an attempt to provide greater clarity around how each method is applied and their specific strengths and weaknesses. A search of publications quoting the use of hybrid LCI was undertaken for the period from 2010 to 2015, identifying 97 peer-reviewed publications referencing the use of a hybrid LCI. In over one third of the literature analysed, authors only refer to their analysis as a hybrid LCI, without naming the actual method used, making it difficult to fully understand the method used and any potential limitations. Based on the way in which the various hybrid methods are applied and their existing use, the authors propose a set of clear definitions for existing hybrid LCI methods. This assists in creating a better understanding of, 2 and confidence in applying hybrid LCI methods amongst LCA practitioners, potentially leading to a greater uptake of hybrid LCI. KeywordsLife cycle assessment; life cycle inventory analysis; input-output analysis; process analysis; hybrid analysis.

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Section: Discussion and Future Outlookmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybrid life cycle inventory methods – A review

Crawford

Bontinck

Stephan

et al. 2018

Journal of Cleaner Production

Self Cite

241

174

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show abstract

“…For hybrid LCA, in particular, the prices and sales of products, specific description of input-output industries and wide coverage of environmental extensions for IO tables all play crucial roles. As individual process database and IO table continue to grow and improve, more automated, streamlined and validated ways of compiling hybrid life cycle inventories become more important to produce quality assessments (Crawford et al 2017). The framework presented in this paper is a step in that direction.…”

Section: Outlook and Further Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing hybrid LCA routines in an input–output virtual laboratory

Wiedmann

2018

Economic Structures

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Hybrid life cycle assessment (hLCA)-combining conventional process-based LCA and environmentally extended input-output analysis (EEIOA) in a variety of ways-has been developed for almost 40 years (Crawford et al. 2018). The primary motivations behind developing various hLCA models are to reduce the truncation errors inherent in process-based LCA (Lenzen 2000; Suh et al. 2004; Suh 2004; Crawford et al. 2018) and/or to mitigate the aggregation errors rooted in EEIOA (Suh and Huppes 2005; Peters 2010), while maintaining the specificity and completeness of the system under study. Driven by different research questions and model designs, a range of hLCA methods have been developed (Suh 2004; Nakamura and Nansai 2016; Crawford et al. 2018). Tiered hybrid analysis uses a selective combination of process and input-output data to extend the system boundary (Zhai and Williams 2010; Changbo et al. 2012; Bullard et al. 1978). This normally requires a case-specific definition of the system boundary as well

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“…Hybrid analysis aims to combine the strengths of the previous two by filling missing, processrelated information with input-output data, and it has been demonstrated that it is likely to yield more accurate results (Pomponi and Lenzen, 2018). However, combining process and inputoutput data in a hybrid LCA remains a highly manual and time-consuming process (Crawford et al, 2017). Therefore, in the LCA of buildings -where each of the materials used has its own specific life-cycle and all interact dynamically in both space and time (Erlandsson and Borg, 2003;Collinge et al, 2013) -the process-based analysis appears as the most reasonable choice and is also suggested by European and International Standards that are specifically developed for the construction sector (Moncaster and Song, 2012).…”

Section: Life Cycle Assessment Methods: Advantages and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole-life design and resource reuse of a solar water heater in the UK

Saint

Pomponi

GarnierCeline

et al. 2019

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering

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Passive solar systems are often designed primarily with efficiency in mind. This means that research efforts are concentrated towards gaining an increase in performance. However, due to the multiple materials used, their manufacturing processes, a lifespan that is usually shorter than that of a building a system is applied to, and the waste generated when it has reached the end of its useful life, a more holistic approach to the design and performance of these systems should be adopted. This paper reports on the environmental impact of a unique integrated collector-storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) design, experimentally tested under Scottish weather conditions, considering circular economy and reuse potential. As such, the material flows and components used are mapped against the life-cycle stages of existing European standards, whilst ensuring an optimal efficiency. End of life considerations and design for disassembly and reuse are also assessed and discussed. The results show that a holistic design, which promotes circular economy principles, does not compromise efficiency and economic viability. Energy payback times of 4.5 and 4.6 years can be realised for a circular and linear approach, respectively. The biggest improvement comes from the operational carbon savings, which far outstrip the embodied carbon, with carbon payback times of just 7 months, when replacing an electric system.

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Towards an Automated Approach for Compiling Hybrid Life Cycle Inventories

Cited by 29 publications

References 19 publications

Hybrid life cycle inventory methods – A review

Hybrid life cycle inventory methods – A review

Implementing hybrid LCA routines in an input–output virtual laboratory

Whole-life design and resource reuse of a solar water heater in the UK

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