CLF Unveils Groundbreaking Research on Building Material Life Cycles

The Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) has published a pivotal research document titled “End of Life Modeling and Data in North American Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment Tools.” This publication is a result of a collaborative effort with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), Building Transparency (BT), and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).

The research provides an in-depth analysis of end-of-life (EOL) processes for building materials, a critical aspect often overlooked in sustainability assessments. By conducting interviews, surveys, and workshops with industry experts, the CLF has gathered comprehensive insights into the functionalities and data requirements of whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) tools.

Key recommendations and future research directions outlined in the report aim to enhance EOL modeling, thereby facilitating more accurate environmental impact assessments. The research team extends their gratitude to the REMADE Institute for funding this initiative and acknowledges the valuable contributions from various collaborators and participants.

The full report, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, is now available for public access. It marks a significant step towards optimizing resource recovery and minimizing the ecological footprint of the construction industry.