Comparison of an LCA and LCC for façade renovation strategies designed for change

Abstract

This paper examines the environmental and financial impact of façade renovation strategies designed for change and how taking into account each of these aspects will lead to different renovation decisions. In a first part of the paper the optimal construction method for different façade renovation strategies is searched from the environmental point of view. This is done through life cycle analysis (LCA). In a second part of the paper the financial impact of the results obtained with LCA is determined. This is done with life cycle costing (LCC). The results show that although both LCA and LCC are life cycle studies that follow similar principles and boundaries this does not mean that LCA and LCC based decisions will coincide. For the environmental score the operational energy of a building has the largest impact and energy efficiency measures will often be beneficial. For the financial cost the investment cost is the most important impact and energy efficiency measures will only pay off to a certain extent. Decisions that are based solely on the financial cost may thus lead to sub-optimal solutions from an environmental point of view.