Bridging social intents and environmental impacts through eLCA on building renovation cases

Abstract

Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (eLCA) has become an integral component of building certification systems and regulatory frameworks. However, existing approaches lack robust methodologies for evaluating the environmental implications of socially oriented design intents during early design stages. This gap limits architects and other early-phase stakeholders’ ability to balance social and environmental sustainability effectively when making preliminary decisions. To address this challenge, the present study introduces a systematic methodology for eliciting socially oriented design intents from early design phases and quantifying their environmental impact through eLCA. The proposed framework categorises these design intents into three types: Addition, Removal, and Replacement, based on their impact on building design. Three case studies are presented to illustrate the application of this methodology across these categories. The findings demonstrate that the inclusion of socially oriented design intents can significantly influence a building’s total CO2-equivalent emissions, either positively or negatively. By enabling early-stage assessment of such impacts, this research provides a foundation for more informed decision-making, supporting the integration of social and environmental objectives in building renovation projects.