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NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy operated by Midwest Research Institute • Battelle
Michael Deru, PhD
ASTM LCA WorkshopAtlanta, GAOctober 19, 2009
Using the U.S. Life Cycle Inventory Database
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Where to Get LCI data
• Collect it yourself• Literature review• Buy it with software• Buy it from a database provider• Buy it from a consultant• Use European data• Public database
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Value of a Public LCI Database
• Public access to LCI data• Promotes wider use of LCA• Transparency• Allows for peer critique of performance
claims• Consistency
– Data protocols and formats– LCA study results
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
U.S. LCI Database
• Public/private “partnership”– DOE/NREL own the database– Private data contribution
• Freely available since 2003 • 178 unit process data sets
http://www.nrel.gov/lci
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
USLCI DB: Key Database Criteria
• Unit process data (think LEGOs)• Industry average• Transparent• Consistent protocol following ISO standards• Accessible in multiple formats
– U.S. “streamlined” format– EcoSpold format– SimaPro version (free from vendor)– GaBi Version (free from vendor)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Unit Process Data – Building Blocks
Product Outputs
Process Inputs (Technosphere)
Inputs from Nature (natural resources)
Outputs to Nature (emissions)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Unit Process – Putting the Blocks TogetherCradle-to-Gate example
Simple Window
Glass
AluminumIngot Alum.
Cold RollProcess
Silica
SodaAsh
Lime
Bauxite
CH4
Coal
Diesel
Trans-port
Elec.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
USLCI DB: Recent Activities
• Database revised in 2008• Available in SimaPro and GaBi• Completed Roadmap in August 2009• Hired full time person in September• New funding!• Coordinating with
– Walmart Sustainability Index– USGBC– Federal agencies– International efforts
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Roadmap
• Vision and master plan for the database
• Developed with stakeholders
• Published August 25, 2009
www.nrel.gov/lci
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Roadmap ParticipantsThe Aluminum Association Metal Construction Association
American Chemistry Council National Association of Home Builders
American Institute of Steel Construction National Center for Manufacturing Sciences
Argonne National Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology
Athena Institute National Renewable Energy Laboratory
BD Medical National Trust for Historic Preservation
Black & Veatch Navarro Research & Engineering
The Carbon Trust North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
Concurrent Technologies Corporation PE Americas
Decra Roofing Systems Shaw, Inc.
Earthshift Steel Recycling Institute
Ecointesys Sylvatica
Five Winds International U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service R&D
Franklin Associates U.S. Department of Energy
Green Building Alliance U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Green Seal U.S. General Services Administration
GreenBlue U.S. Green Building Council
Institute for Environmental Research and Education University of Arkansas
Metal Building Manufacturers Associations University of California, Santa Barbara
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Roadmap: Critical Paths Forward
1. Project Management2. Data Management
– Revise database and data quality protocols3. LCI Data
– Update, fill in gaps, and expand4. Communications
– Strengthen partnerships and education
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Website – www.nrel.gov/lci
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Available Information
• Data Development Guidelines• Database User’s Guide• Streamlined spreadsheet template• Data
– 178 data sets– 177 dummy data sets– Three formats
• Streamlined spreadsheet• EcoSpold spreadsheet• EcoSpold xml
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Available Data
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
View Streamlined Data – Process Info Page• Quick module description
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
View Streamlined Data – Flow Info Page
Inputs
Outputs
Products
Unallocateddata
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Download Data Files• Whole database• Individual data files (five files per data set)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Streamlined Spreadsheet – US Electricity
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Electricity Bit. Coal at Power Plant
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Contributing Data
• Resources (from www.nrel.gov/lci) – Database User’s Guide– Database Project Development Guidelines– Streamlined spreadsheet template
• What to send– Streamlined spreadsheet with LCI data– Data development reports– Detailed data development spreadsheets
• Where to send– Email to [email protected]
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
Big Picture
Actually, no pictures Imagine … • Growing demand for answers concerning our
environmental impact– Carbon footprints, eco-labels, environmental
management, …• LCA provides a framework for this analysis• LCAs are only as good as the data and the
analysis methods• Quality LCI databases are the foundation for
all of this work We have a lot of work ahead of us
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
More Information
• www.nrel.gov/lci• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]
