Methodology

LCA

• http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/103100_103199/103199/01.01.01_60/ts_103199v010101p.pdf

What is it?

• Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a system analytical method and model by which the potential environmental effects related to ICT Equipment, Networks, and Services can be estimated. LCAs have a cradle-to-grave scope where the life cycle stages, i.e. raw material acquisition, production, use, and end-of-life are included. Transports and energy supply are moreover included in each life-cycle stage.

Overview

• http://www.quantis-intl.com/life_cycle_assessment.php

ISO (International Organisation for Standard) http://www.iso.org/iso/theiso14000family_2009.pdf

• ISO has standardized the LCA methodology. In the present document, ICT specific additions to the ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2] standards will be described. As addition to the ISO 14040 [1] and ISO 14044 [2] standards, the European

• Commission has published a handbook that gives detailed guidance on all the steps required to conduct an LCA [i.2].

ISO: 14040 [2006] http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=37456

• ISO 14040:2006 describes the principles and framework for life cycle assessment (LCA) including: definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review of the LCA, limitations of the LCA, the relationship between the LCA phases, and conditions for use of value choices and optional elements.

• ISO 14040:2006 covers life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies. It does not describe the LCA technique in detail, nor does it specify methodologies for the individual phases of the LCA.

http://www.pre-sustainability.com/download/misc/Whitepaper_Standards_and_guidelines.pdf

ISO 14044 [2006] http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=38498

• ISO 14044:2006 specifies requirements and provides guidelines for life cycle assessment (LCA) including: definition of the goal and scope of the LCA, the life cycle inventory analysis (LCI) phase, the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase, the life cycle interpretation phase, reporting and critical review of the LCA, limitations of the LCA, relationship between the LCA phases, and conditions for use of value choices and optional elements.

• ISO 14044:2006 covers life cycle assessment (LCA) studies and life cycle inventory (LCI) studies.

Methodological Framework

• ETSI pages 14-37• Focus – page 25 – ICT use

Energy consumption during use stagePage 31The best way to determine the energy consumption is to measure a large number of products in

real live operating environments over a long period of time (e.g. a year to capture all aspects of different use behaviour, climate etc.).

Many network Equipment are installed in sites with energy meters.If data from such measurements are not available the second best alternative would be to estimate

energy consumption based on available ETSI standards for laboratory measurements of energy consumption, e.g. for Radio Base Stations, TS 102 706 [i.1] applies. http://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_ts/102700_102799/102706/01.01.01_60/ts_102706v010101p.pdf (TS – technical specifications)

This method will however only give a snapshot of real energy consumption and is considered as less accurate.

The third alternative would be to use estimated/ measured energy consumption for certain user behaviour.

For many products (especially end-user equipment), periods of idling and power off are important to model the usage profile and shall be included if applicable.

The LCA practitioner shall use the applicable electricity mix to calculate the potential environmental impact from the use stage more exactly.

NOTE: The electricity mix ought to closely reflect the intended use place for the Equipment.The Network energy consumption is calculated as the sum of all ICT Equipment and Support

Equipment energy consumption values obtained as described above.

LCIA (Lifecycle Impact Assessment)

• http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pdf-directory/ILCD-Handbook-LCIA-Framework-requirements-online-12March2010.pdf

• A range of environmental impacts pages 29 onwards http://lct.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pdf-directory/ILCD-Handbook-LCIA-Framework-requirements-online-12March2010.pdf

Additional Resources

• Brief overview of LCA http://www.bath.ac.uk/i-see/posters/

Life_Cycle_Assessment_An_Introduction_MM_ppp_ISEE_Website.pdf

• Life cycle assessment: Part 1: Framework, goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, and applications; G. Rebitzer, a, , T. Ekvallb, R. Frischknechtc, D. Hunkelerd, G. Norrise, T. Rydbergf, W.-P. Schmidtg, S. Suhh, B.P. Weidemai, D.W. Penningtonf; Environment International Volume 30, Issue 5, July 2004, Pages 701–720

GESI

• http://www.gesi.org/files/Reports/Evaluating%20the%20carbon-reducing%20impacts%20of%20ICT_September2010.pdf

Can Use GESI -Worksheet

• Uploaded document

Review of LCA

• http://web.mit.edu/~elsao/www/Apple_Camanoe_E-content_vs_Print/ATIS_Report_Lifecycle_Assessment-Final_2009.pdf