A student is considering purchasing a new energy-star rated washing machine to replace the old one. The dryer currently being used still works very well and doesn't need to be replaced. In addition to cost and performance, the student wants to consider environmental impacts when making decision. If you are asked to conduct an LCA to help the student make a decision, how will you define the scope? Feel free to make assumptions as long as they are reasonable. Consider the following aspects... Describe the product system to be assessed e.g., (hand dryer & electricity) vs. (paper towels & paper towel dispenser & trash can) Define the functional unit of the study Must be quantitative (e.g., 1,000 pairs of hands dried) . . Define reference flows (e.g., two hand dryers, each dries 500 pairs of hands) Translate the abstract functional unit into specific product flows Establish system boundaries of the study Which life cycle stages and operations to include and exclude? why? List the types of inputs and outputs/wastes to consider . e.g., (electricity vs. paper) (heat released to air vs. waste paper) What data to include and exclude? Why? The Scope . . . . . Describe the product system to be assessed . e.g., hand dryer w/ electricity vs. (paper towels & paper towel dispenser & trash can) Determine the function of the system to be assessed (e.g., drying hands). Define the functional unit of the study Must be quantitative (e.g., 1,000 pairs of hands dried) Establishes basis for comparisons Define reference flows (e.g., two hand dryers, each dries 500 pairs of hands) Translate the abstract functional unit into specific product flows Establish system boundaries of the study Which life cycle stages and operations are included in the LCA? (e.g., production) LCIA methodology and types of impacts (or stop at LCI?) e.g., MJ energy consumed per 1,000 pairs of dry hand Determine the data requirements (e.g. how specific? data quality? missing data?) State the assumptions and limitations Why are boundaries set as they are? Why is certain data not included? Establish the reporting requirements (critical review? By whom?) . . . A student is considering purchasing a new energy-star rated washing machine to replace the old one. The dryer currently being used still works very well and doesn't need to be replaced. In addition to cost and performance, the student wants to consider environmental impacts when making decision. If you are asked to conduct an LCA to help the student make a decision, how will you define the scope? Feel free to make assumptions as long as they are reasonable. Consider the following aspects... Describe the product system to be assessed e.g., (hand dryer & electricity) vs. (paper towels & paper towel dispenser & trash can) Define the functional unit of the study Must be quantitative (e.g., 1,000 pairs of hands dried) . . Define reference flows (e.g., two hand dryers, each dries 500 pairs of hands) Translate the abstract functional unit into specific product flows Establish system boundaries of the study Which life cycle stages and operations to include and exclude? why? List the types of inputs and outputs/wastes to consider . e.g., (electricity vs. paper) (heat released to air vs. waste paper) What data to include and exclude? Why? The Scope . . . . . Describe the product system to be assessed . e.g., hand dryer w/ electricity vs. (paper towels & paper towel dispenser & trash can) Determine the function of the system to be assessed (e.g., drying hands). Define the functional unit of the study Must be quantitative (e.g., 1,000 pairs of hands dried) Establishes basis for comparisons Define reference flows (e.g., two hand dryers, each dries 500 pairs of hands) Translate the abstract functional unit into specific product flows Establish system boundaries of the study Which life cycle stages and operations are included in the LCA? (e.g., production) LCIA methodology and types of impacts (or stop at LCI?) e.g., MJ energy consumed per 1,000 pairs of dry hand Determine the data requirements (e.g. how specific? data quality? missing data?) State the assumptions and limitations Why are boundaries set as they are? Why is certain data not included? Establish the reporting requirements (critical review? By whom?)
