If you’re wondering how to complete your LCA models using eToolLCD you have landed on the right place. This is a basic step by step process to start a model from scratch all the way through to certification. There will be variances depending on the project type you’re modelling and the purpose of the LCA but we hope this provides a good initial guidance. You can always check the example projects in your account to compare the scope and make sure you’ve added all required project info.

eToolLCD workflow: Quantify > Compare > Improve > Certify

1. Create a project, structure and you base design (to be used as reference for comparative LCA process).
2. Insert project information using the “Details” tab.  Be sure to use the ‘Compare Benchmark’ – eTool have created a number of Benchmark buildings; including a Residential and Office type. Comparing your design to those Benchmarks will highlight any major gaps in your Life cycle inventory.
3. Include templates from library or customise your own templates. Make sure you customise templates in the library first, before you load them into your models.
4. Compare the scope of your Design with the example projects and the Benchmark designs (which you can see in the eTool Library). You can also use the Construction Scope and Energy and Water Scope which are on the Project details as a checklist of items to consider in the data collection phase of your life cycle assessment.
5. Run the Top Impacts reports – check that the usual suspects and expected items are on the list.
6. Compare the total impacts of each building Category (Substructure, Superstructure etc) against the Benchmark – (blue bars versus grey bars)
7. Submit your Base design  for Certification by the eTool team. This is quality assurance service and an LCA mentoring process
8. Clone your Certified Base design to create a LCA – Scenario, often called your Improved design.
9. Identify the strategies to reduce the Top Impacts – use the Recommendations tab to document these design improvement strategies.
10. Implement design improvements using the “Recommendations” tab and other features like bulk swap. Make sure you record the changes so they can be automatically populated in your reports.
11. Generate the reports automatically from the software and present to your clients:
    • Target Setting Study (preliminary design advice)
    • Design Feedback Report (design development stage)
    • Environmental Infographics (Useful for marketing and communicating to layperson)
12. Clone the improved design into a final design and implement all confirmed design improvements.
13. Submit final design for certification with eTool.
14. Generate reports from Certified Final design
    • Emissions certificate
    • Infographics
    • Life cycle inventory
15. Get out there and be proud of achieving a genuinely sustainable design outcome!