Integrated Life Cycle Assessment for a Sustainable Resource Management of Buildings

Approximately 60 percent of the weight of all wastes in Germany originates from the building area. For construction activities usually non-renewable resources are used. Nevertheless so far only incomplete knowledge about consumption of resources and energy over the entire life cycle of a building, about effects on consumption of fossil raw materials and the overall ecological implications of the use of recycling materials is available. As the most important decisions are made in the very early design phases of a building, it is necessary to include long-term ecological aspects from the beginning of planning work. • about 30% of total energy demand is used for heating, air-conditioning and warm water in buildings.