A Comparative Study of Standardised Inputs and Inconsistent Outputs in LCA Software
Date
Authors
Gong, J
Vishnupriya, V
Wilkinson, S
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI AG
Abstract
Motivation: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool for quantifying environmental impacts in construction. However, inconsistencies between software outputs may compromise effective decision-making. Knowledge Gap: In New Zealand’s construction sector, practitioners have limited guidance in selecting suitable LCA tools due to gaps in software scope, data transparency, and the quality of result interpretation. Aim and Objectives: This study investigates inconsistencies in results produced by eight widely used LCA software tools and identifies the key factors contributing to these variations. Research Method: This study uses a comparative analysis with data from a timber-framed warehouse project in Auckland, New Zealand. Eight software tools (SimaPro V9.0, openLCA V2.0, LCAQuick V3.5, Building Carbon Calculator V1.0, CCaLC2 V3.1, eTool V5.0, One Click LCA, and Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings V5.4) were evaluated across 14 environmental impact categories using standardised inputs. Preliminary Findings: Substantial inconsistencies were observed even with standardised inputs, although SimaPro V9.0 and openLCA V2.0 provided the most consistent results. These findings highlight the importance of software selection for reliable environmental assessments. Research Significance: This study aids industry practitioners in selecting effective LCA tools for sustainable construction practices.Description
Keywords
4005 Civil Engineering, 40 Engineering, 33 Built Environment and Design, 3302 Building, 1201 Architecture, 1202 Building, 1203 Design Practice and Management, 3301 Architecture, 3302 Building, 4005 Civil engineering
Source
Buildings, ISSN: 2075-5309 (Print); 2075-5309 (Online), MDPI AG, 15(17), 3174-3174. doi: 10.3390/buildings15173174
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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).