BCIS launches new tool to measure whole life costs and carbon
A new tool which measures and reports on whole life costs and whole life carbon emissions at the same time has been launched by the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).
Life Cycle Evaluator brings together BCIS’s extensive cost data, building on more than 60 years’ experience and detailed carbon data from the Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD).
James Fiske, BCIS CEO and Chair of the BECD steering group, said: “By combining reliable and consistent cost and carbon data, which crucially complies with industry standards and is fully auditable, Life Cycle Evaluator empowers professionals to make informed decisions that optimise both project budget and environmental impact.
“Everyone in the industry, regardless of their role, can play a part in reducing harmful
emissions. Realistically, though, we know it’s not always easy to incorporate carbon assessments into project planning, especially where there is limited experience within the team. Anything we can do to make that process more streamlined and efficient will be of significant benefit.”
Life Cycle Evaluator is the latest service offered by BCIS to help drive down whole life carbon emissions in the industry, following the launches of its Cost and Carbon Materials Database, which provides comparative cost and Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) details for thousands of materials and components, and the Built Environment Carbon Database, a collaborative initiative which includes an extensive repository of EPDs and project carbon data.
Life Cycle Evaluator features a comprehensive component database, to which users can also add their own. It includes activity build-ups relevant to the project’s life, from initial construction to planned and reactive maintenance and replacement, and finally disposal, which could include reuse or recycling of materials.
