Recordings and slide of session 1 are now available on the academy.
Construction LCA Bootcamp - Session 1 Q&A
Thanks for all the great questions! I have filtered the logs, combined similar queries, and provided answers for those that were addressed live during the session.
1. Bootcamp Logistics
(Recordings, slides, software access, and schedules)
1. Will the session recordings be available if I miss a class?
Yes. All recordings are uploaded to the One Click LCA Academy course space within one working day of the webinar. You will continue having access to the course until the next bootcamp and can revisit them at your convenience.
2. Will the presentation slides be shared?
Yes, the presentations will be uploaded to the Academy within one working day.
3. How long are the daily sessions?
Each session is scheduled for 2 hours.
4. Do we get a software license for the bootcamp?
Yes, participants receive access to the software during the course.
5. I am having trouble with my meeting link; is there a code? If your unique link is not working, you can join directly via the main webinar link provided in your registration emails or through the Academy.
2. Certification & Career Development
(Exam details, CV advice, and professional credits)
6. Is there an exam, and does it cost anything?
The exam opens on Thursday. It is a multiple-choice test that is completely free of charge for all bootcamp participants.
7. What kind of certificate do I receive?
Upon passing the exam, you receive a “Certificate of Completion” for the LCA Specialist course. The certificate states the hours used for the course and serves as proof that you have gained foundational knowledge in the subject.
8. Can I call myself a “Certified LCA Practitioner” after this?
We recommend using the title LCA Specialist as stated on the certificate. It is best to avoid the term “practitioner” until you are actively working with LCA professionally.
9. Can this bootcamp be used for LEED Continuing Education (CE) hours?
This specific bootcamp is unlikely to count for LEED CE hours. However, we offer a dedicated LEED course on the Academy that is more suitable for those credits.
10. Do I need to be a LEED GA or AP to start working on LCA?
No, it is not a requirement to start LCA work. However, having a LEED AP on a project team provides a specific credit, and it is beneficial to understand these systems as LCA requirements are now included as minimums in newer versions of LEED and BREEAM.
3. LCA Fundamentals & Methodology
(Impact categories, life cycle stages, and modeling logic)
11. Do LCAs only look at CO2, or are there other impact categories?
It depends on the method you follow. While carbon is the most common, systems like DGNB include primary energy use, LEED includes several different impact categories, and Level(s) includes all EN 15804+A2 categories.
12. What are the typical proportions of carbon impact across building stages?
This depends heavily on the building type and region. Generally:
- Stage B6 (Operational Energy): 40–60% of total impacts (though as low as 20% for passive houses).
- Stage A1-A3 (Product Stage): 40–60% of impacts.
- Other stages: Typically less than 20%, unless there are major use-stage impacts like refrigerant leaks.
13. What is Stage D, and why is it important?
Stage D covers recycling and reuse. It accounts for the potential environmental benefits and loads beyond the building’s system boundary after its end-of-life.
14. How do we handle LCA for renovation projects?
In a renovation, you typically leave out the product stage impacts (A1-A3) for the parts of the building being reused. You include the impacts of new materials, as well as the use and end-of-life impacts.
15. Does “Site Selection” impact the LCA?
Yes. Soil stabilization alone can account for 30% of a building’s total life cycle impact. A good site that doesn’t require stabilization or large foundations is a major factor in reducing impact.
4. Data, Software & Tools
(Data sourcing, Carbon Designer 3D, and AI)
16. How do I know the carbon impact of a specific material if the brand isn’t mentioned?
LCA rely on EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). Generic data is useful for early-stage assessments, but once you know the specific products being installed, you should use manufacturer-specific EPDs as they are third-party verified and more reliable.
17. How does Carbon Designer 3D help in the early stages?
It allows you to estimate quantities (like concrete volumes) and environmental impacts before you have a final structural design. You can select building types and specifications to generate a baseline.
18. Can One Click LCA handle the temporal aspects of operational carbon?
Yes. While we promote whole-life cycle approaches to avoid “burden shifting,” temporal aspects are handled most effectively with dynamic tools like our French RE2020-aligned tool.
19. How will AI assist in doing LCA through the software?
AI is being integrated to help streamline the LCA process, such as assisting with material mapping and data selection.
5. Regional Standards & Industry Practice
(Global regulations and market challenges)
20. Are LCA requirements mandatory in all countries?
No, it varies significantly. Some countries like Denmark have strict mandatory caps (e.g., 9 kg CO2e/m2 per year). In other regions, such as the US, requirements are often state-specific rather than federal.
21. How do I handle clients who see LCA as just a “tick-box” exercise with no penalties?
This is a common challenge in markets with voluntary targets. Success often depends on value chain transparency and keeping the LCA model updated as the project advances so that the “as-built” reflects actual quantities and products.
22. Where can I find companies in my region (e.g., Ireland) that use One Click LCA?
We do not share private client lists. We recommend contacting local associations like the Irish Green Building Council (IGBC) or looking for firms that specialize in sustainable building certifications.