Short answer
Adopt a holistic approach to building design and procurement by evaluating both the initial costs and the long-term environmental and economic impacts throughout the building's entire life cycle.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Epubl LTU (2002)
- Method
- Mixed-methods research combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Procurement models that integrate life-cycle cost and environmental impact assessment can incentivize more sustainable building solutions and lead to cost-effective, environmentally aware buildings. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2002 study published in Epubl LTU. Using Mixed-methods research combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Adopt a holistic approach to building design and procurement by evaluating both the initial costs and the long-term environmental and economic impacts throughout the building's entire life cycle.
Integrating Life-Cycle Cost and Environmental Impact for Sustainable Building Procurement
Procurement models that integrate life-cycle cost and environmental impact assessment can incentivize more sustainable building solutions and lead to cost-effective, environmentally aware buildings.
Epubl LTU · 2002
Key Findings
- 01Environmental requirements in Swedish procurement often focus on construction processes, waste reduction, and material choice.
- 02Some existing requirements hinder cost-effective construction without significant environmental benefit.
- 03Environmental impact from building operation, especially energy use, is not sufficiently considered.
- 04Integrating life-cycle cost and environmental impact assessment in tender evaluation can incentivize innovative, sustainable solutions.
Application
Design takeaway
Adopt a holistic approach to building design and procurement by evaluating both the initial costs and the long-term environmental and economic impacts throughout the building's entire life cycle.
How to apply
When evaluating building proposals or developing design strategies, create a matrix that scores options based on both life-cycle cost projections and quantified environmental impact metrics (e.g., carbon footprint, energy consumption).
Project actions
- 01When researching materials, look for data on their full life cycle, from production to disposal.
- 02Consider how your design choices will affect a building's energy consumption during its operational phase.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a critical gap in sustainable building practices.
- +Proposes a practical framework for integration in procurement.
Limitations
Accurately predicting long-term operational costs and environmental impacts can be challenging due to many variables.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of survey data depends on respondent honesty and recall. Validity is enhanced by triangulating survey data with interview findings and expert discussions.
Think critically
To what extent can a standardized life-cycle assessment model be universally applied across diverse building types and geographical locations, given varying regulations, climates, and material availability?
Design Principles
"Sustainable design and procurement require a life-cycle perspective that balances initial investment with long-term environmental and economic performance."
This research highlights a critical gap in traditional building procurement, where environmental considerations, particularly operational energy use, are often overlooked in favor of initial construction costs. By developing integrated models, design professionals can better evaluate the long-term value and ecological footprint of building projects, driving innovation towards more sustainable outcomes.
What This Means for Your Design
To build better buildings, think about the whole life of the building, not just how it's built. Consider how much energy it will use and how much it will cost to run over many years, not just the price to build it now. This helps choose designs that are good for the planet and save money in the long run.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the concept of life-cycle assessment to justify the selection of materials or design strategies that have lower long-term environmental impact and cost.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This design project adopts a life-cycle perspective, recognizing that the true cost and environmental impact of a building extend far beyond its initial construction. By integrating life-cycle cost estimation with environmental impact assessment, as suggested by Sterner (2002), the aim is to identify design solutions that are both economically viable and ecologically responsible over the building's entire lifespan.
Source
Epubl LTU
Green procurement of buildings: estimation of environmental impact and life-cycle cost
journal · 2002
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about integrating life-cycle cost and environmental impact for sustainable building procurement?
- Adopt a holistic approach to building design and procurement by evaluating both the initial costs and the long-term environmental and economic impacts throughout the building's entire life cycle. Evidence: Epubl LTU (2002).
- Why does "Integrating Life-Cycle Cost and Environmental Impact for Sustainable Building Procurement" matter for design?
- This research highlights a critical gap in traditional building procurement, where environmental considerations, particularly operational energy use, are often overlooked in favor of initial construction costs. By developing integrated models, design professionals can better evaluate the long-term value and ecological footprint of building projects, driving innovation towards more sustainable outcomes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Adopt a holistic approach to building design and procurement by evaluating both the initial costs and the long-term environmental and economic impacts throughout the building's entire life cycle.
- What were the main findings?
- Environmental requirements in Swedish procurement often focus on construction processes, waste reduction, and material choice.. Some existing requirements hinder cost-effective construction without significant environmental benefit.. Environmental impact from building operation, especially energy use, is not sufficiently considered.. Integrating life-cycle cost and environmental impact assessment in tender evaluation can incentivize innovative, sustainable solutions.
- What research method was used?
- Mixed-methods research combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2002 journal from Epubl LTU.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When evaluating building proposals or developing design strategies, create a matrix that scores options based on both life-cycle cost projections and quantified environmental impact metrics (e.g., carbon footprint, energy consumption).
- What are the limitations?
- The study's findings are primarily based on Swedish procurement practices and may not be directly generalizable to all international contexts without further investigation. The model's practical implementation effectiveness was not fully tested.