Whole-Building Life Cycle Assessment Professional

​This course introduces the life cycle assessment (LCA) technical fundamentals needed to effectively practice of whole-building LCA and use whole-building LCA results and environmental product declarations (EPDs). Learners will develop their understanding of LCA standards, methods, and data in the course. They will learn LCA concepts and technical language in general and as applied to buildings such as LCA phases, life cycle stages for a building, and building model scope. The course equips participants with the technical foundation to establish expertise in whole-building LCA and EPDs. Key topics include life cycle thinking, LCA purpose and applications, embodied carbon, relevant ISO and EN standards, LCA process and data, EPDs, and national guidelines in whole-building LCA. This is a pre-requisite course for XZEB 1165, 1166, and 1169. Delivery Format: This course is intended to be offered fully online with live tutorials with the instructor. The online learning model includes self-guided learning materials and activities in the BCIT Learning Hub.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course builds on the technical foundation and basic principles of life cycle assessment (LCA) to begin practicing whole-building LCA. In the course, learners will apply their understanding of fundamental LCA standards to whole-building LCA. The course will be based on the Canadian national guidelines for whole-building LCA and will make use of the free LCA software, the Athena Impact Estimator for Buildings. Key topics include: background material and energy environmental data, scenarios, creating a building model and conducting whole-building LCA, data quality considerations, environmental product declarations (EPDs), interpreting results, making comparisons, and reporting. Prior knowledge of building design and construction is recommended for success in this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• XZEB 1160 or or equivalent experience

​​​This course covers advanced topics for assessing data sources, interpreting, and reporting results of a whole-building life cycle assessment (wbLCA). The course will prepare students to conduct a wbLCA and prepare an environmental building declaration by understanding the quality and sources of data, advanced methods, and interpreting results using the Impact Estimator for Buildings web tool. Key topics include advanced data considerations, EPDs, advanced method issues for Module D (recyclability, biogenic carbon, carbonation, off-gassing), benchmarks, comparisons, and wbLCA practices consistent with national guidelines. Prior knowledge of building design and construction is recommended for success in this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• XZEB 1160 and XZEB 1165 or equivalent experience

This prepares you to conduct whole-building life cycle assessment (LCA) and responsibly report results in an environmental building declaration. In this project-based course, students will practice completing a high-quality whole-building LCA and preparing an environmental building declaration. Prior knowledge of building design and construction is recommended for success in this course. Upon completion of this and the prerequisites (XZEB 1160, XZEB 1165, and XZEB 1166), students can receive a microcredential certifying their skills in whole-building LCA. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• XZEB 1160, XZEB 1165 and XZEB 1166 or equivalent experience