Construction LCA Bootcamp Exercise: Open practice for students & professionals

Learning, Resources & Academy Exercises
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During the Construction LCA Bootcamp, students have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with professional LCA tools through a hands-on building exercise. This exercise is designed to let you practice on a real-scale building, face common industry challenges, and explore decarbonization solutions.

  • Open to Everyone: While this follows our live curriculum, these steps are applicable to anyone looking to sharpen their skills or learn the construction LCA workflow independently.
  • Software Access: Access to the One Click LCA platform is provided after the third bootcamp session and will be valid for one month. If you are not following the bootcamp, you can also complete these exercises using a trial, student, or educational license.
  • Note for Bootcamp Students: The exercise is optional. Exam questions relate only to the content of the live sessions and not to the specific results of this exercise.

Have questions? If you run into any hurdles or have questions related to these exercises, please ask them right here in this post!

Exercise Roadmap

The exercise is broken down into thematic steps that mirror a professional LCA workflow:

  • Quantity Extraction: Learn to extract material quantities from drawings to generate an Excel import file.
  • Data Integration: Format the import template, upload quantities to the software, and match materials with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
  • Results Analysis: Perform a detailed analysis of the baseline results.
  • Design Optimization: Optimize the baseline and create alternative designs with reduced environmental impact.

Project Scope & Essential Documents

To ensure consistency, we are focusing on specific building elements and life-cycle stages. Please review the scope below before beginning your take-offs.

Technical Scope

  • Life-Cycle Stages: The assessment covers stages A to C plus D (excluding B2, B3, B6, and B7).
  • Building Parts: You will account for the Structure, Envelope, and Architectural Finishes.
  • Exclusions: MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing), external works, and impacts from energy/water consumption are out of scope.

Required Documents (Attached Below)

You will find all the files needed to complete the exercise attached to this post:

Recommended Tools

  • PDF Viewer: A tool with measuring capabilities (e.g., Bluebeam or Acrobat Reader) is essential for reading dimensions.
  • Microsoft Excel: For formatting your data.
  • One Click LCA: Access to the platform and the Carbon Designer 3D tool.

Pro Tip: While these assignments are not formally checked, completing them will help you navigate the common challenges of a real-scale building LCA.

Exercise 1: Quantity Extraction & Preparation

The first technical phase focuses on transforming architectural drawings into usable data. Accuracy here is critical, as these quantities form the foundation of your entire Life Cycle Assessment.

Exercise 2: Environmental Data & EPDs

This phase focuses on understanding the data behind the materials and how environmental impacts are verified through standardized documentation.

  • Exercise: Gain a deeper understanding of EPD creation by reviewing EPD Hub’s GPI and PCR and learn how to find and interpret EPD data/results from EPD Hub’s library.
  • Self-Study:
  • Reading Materials:
    • Gain a deeper understanding of EPD creation by reviewing EPD Hub’s Global Program Instructions (GPI) and Product Category Rules (PCR) to learn how to find and interpret results.

Exercise 3: Software Integration & Analysis

Now you will move into the application to model the building and interpret the results to find the “carbon hotspots.”

  • Step 1: Create a project in the One Click LCA Application.
  • Step 2: Import the completed Excel files (BOM.xlsx) provided in the attachments.
  • Step 3: Navigate the interface to check LCA parameters and the environmental data assigned to materials.
  • Self-Study (Analysis): Ask yourself the following questions:
    • Which materials and building parts are causing the highest environmental impacts?
    • Which LCA stages are the most significant?
    • How could you improve the environmental impact of this specific building?

Exercise 4: Optimization & Alternative Design

The final phase is where you put your findings into action by creating and refining lower-carbon design alternatives.

  • Exercise: Improve a baseline design by 30% using the “10 Commandments” guideline for embodied carbon reduction.
    • Step 1: Use Carbon Designer 3D to create a baseline design and import it into the main app.
    • Step 2: Create a copy and improve the baseline by at least 30%.
  • Self-Study:
    • Identify low-carbon, local manufacturer EPDs for concrete, steel, aluminum, and CLT.
    • Use the performance ranking feature to find the best local produc ts
    • Which is the best performing product in your region?

All necessary documents are attached above in this post. Good luck with your analysis!

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