Resources

LCA Tool

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF POST-FRAME BUILDING SYSTEMS

As engineers and architects strive for reduced environmental and energy impacts, life cycle analysis (LCA) of building methods is increasingly important. Post-frame construction is considered sustainable because building materials are used efficiently and the large spacing of posts reduces thermal bridging and increases energy efficiency.

Click here for a report that identifies how one life cycle analysis program, ATHENA Institute's Impact Estimator for Buildings, can be modified for post-frame building systems. It details the modification procedure and concludes with LCA analyses of several post-frame building projects.

Click here for a spreadsheet that expedites the modifications needed to interface with the LCA program for one sample post-frame building project.

Post-frame design professionals can use the contents of this report to:

1. Use the basic principles of LCA procedures to evaluate post-frame building projects.
2. Learn how to use one common LCA program to model post-frame building projects. 
3. Learn how LCA outputs can be used to compare and contrast different structures and building materials for a given project.
4. Interpret the LCA results for three sample post-frame building projects.