Climate impact of housing companies - a hybrid LCA approach

The study estimates greenhouse gases generated by
suburban housing companies with the use of a hybrid LCA
model where IO-LCA methodology is used together with
process data. The aim of the research was to learn which
activities associated with housing companies generate most
greenhouse gases, as well as by whom the emissions could be
diminished. In addition, the applicability of hybrid life cycle
assessment approach to the housing company context is tested
in the study. A case residential area from suburban Helsinki is
studied. All housing companies within the residential area
share the same property manager and energy provider.
Consequently, comparable consumption data (both economic
and metric) was available for analysis. The first phase of the
analysis utilizes an economic input-output (EIO)-LCA model
developed by the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). With the
model, relationships between the different activities can be
established, which allows the activities with the most climate
effect to be taken into more detailed review. This combined
method, where IO-LCA is expanded with process data, can be
described as a tiered hybrid LCA approach. The research
confirms that heating energy is the most significant contributor
to greenhouse gases derived from housing. Furthermore, the
study infers that a significant portion of the climate impact of
residents derive from activities associated with the housing
companies, limiting the potential of the individual residents to
affect the impact.