ADI conducted parameterized life‑cycle assessments of major green building assessment systems using hybrid life‑cycle inventory methods and EPA TRACI impact categories. The analysis explicitly modeled construction materials, energy use, and system boundaries to compare LEED, ASHRAE, and IgCC pathways against a baseline commercial building. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were used to isolate which building features most strongly influence environmental outcomes.
The client
Trade association
The situation
Policymakers lacked consistent, quantitative evidence on how green building standards translate into environmental performance.
ADI’s contributions
Hybrid lifecycle modeling
Applied hybrid LCI methods to capture both process‑level and economy‑wide impacts.
Standards comparison
Modeled LEED, ASHRAE, and IgCC requirements against a common reference building.
Sensitivity analysis
Tested uncertainty in materials, energy use, and system boundaries to identify dominant drivers.
Policy‑relevant reporting
Translated technical LCA results into insights usable for standards development and regulation.
Key outcomes
- Provided a defensible basis to compare green building systems and identify features with the largest lifecycle impact.
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