Environmental law and the legal framework for integrat-ing impacts on indoor air quality in life cycle assessments
Session
LAW
Description
Products used during construction and operation of a building can contribute to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems that affect occupants’ well-being. However, IAQ is conven-tionally not addressed in the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of buildings and building related products even though IAQ leads to one of the areas of protection under LCA - human health impacts. In this study, we proposed an overall framework for integrating IAQ into LCA using the standard steps of LCA. The framework focused on IAQ and LCA modeling from two cate-gories of building related products:
1) passive products that realize their function through initial installation and have long-term decayed emissions, and
2) active equipment that realize their function and cause emissions through daily operation. Dynamic and static life cycle inventory modeling approaches were proposed for passive prod-ucts and active equipment, respectively. We concluded that it was feasible to integrate IAQ into building related LCA studies. Development of IAQ related impact assessment methodolo-gies can improve upon the limitations of this study. Further studies need to be carried out to compare the health. This study demonstrates the appropriateness and significance of integrating indoor environments into LCA, which ensures a more holistic account of all exposure environ-ments and allows for a better accountability of health impacts. Reducing chemical pressure on human and environmental health is an integral part of the global sustainability agenda.
Keywords:
Indoor air quality, LCA, the legal framework of air quality.
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-550-95-6
Location
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Start Date
28-10-2023 8:00 AM
End Date
29-10-2023 6:00 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2023.139
Recommended Citation
Syla, Afrim and Hoxha, Visar, "Environmental law and the legal framework for integrat-ing impacts on indoor air quality in life cycle assessments" (2023). UBT International Conference. 18.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/IC/LAW/18
Environmental law and the legal framework for integrat-ing impacts on indoor air quality in life cycle assessments
UBT Lipjan, Kosovo
Products used during construction and operation of a building can contribute to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems that affect occupants’ well-being. However, IAQ is conven-tionally not addressed in the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of buildings and building related products even though IAQ leads to one of the areas of protection under LCA - human health impacts. In this study, we proposed an overall framework for integrating IAQ into LCA using the standard steps of LCA. The framework focused on IAQ and LCA modeling from two cate-gories of building related products:
1) passive products that realize their function through initial installation and have long-term decayed emissions, and
2) active equipment that realize their function and cause emissions through daily operation. Dynamic and static life cycle inventory modeling approaches were proposed for passive prod-ucts and active equipment, respectively. We concluded that it was feasible to integrate IAQ into building related LCA studies. Development of IAQ related impact assessment methodolo-gies can improve upon the limitations of this study. Further studies need to be carried out to compare the health. This study demonstrates the appropriateness and significance of integrating indoor environments into LCA, which ensures a more holistic account of all exposure environ-ments and allows for a better accountability of health impacts. Reducing chemical pressure on human and environmental health is an integral part of the global sustainability agenda.