03-One Click LCA software training

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide for using the One Click LCA software, a powerful tool for life cycle assessment (LCA) in building projects. It aims to help users understand how to navigate the software effectively, perform assessments, and utilize the features to enhance sustainability in design and construction.

Step 1: Creating a New Project

• Open One Click LCA software.
• Click on the “Create New Project” button.
• Enter the project name and relevant details such as location and project type.
• Choose the assessment type relevant to your project (e.g., building materials, transportation, etc.).

Step 2: Inputting Project Data

• Navigate to the “Data Input” section.
• Select the materials and processes used in your project:
  • Use the search function to find specific materials.
  • Add materials by dragging them into your project space.
• Input quantities for each material. Ensure accuracy to reflect the project's actual requirements.

Step 3: Setting Up the Assessment

• Go to the “Assessment Setup” tab.
• Choose the boundaries for your life cycle assessment:
  • Select “Cradle to Gate” for material extraction to factory gate.
  • “Cradle to Grave” includes use and disposal phases.
• Specify any additional criteria or indicators you wish to analyze, such as carbon footprint or resource use.

Step 4: Running the Analysis

• After setting up the assessment, click on the “Run Analysis” button.
• Wait for the software to process your data.
• Once completed, you will receive a summary of the results showing environmental impacts.

Step 5: Reviewing Results

• Examine the results presented in graphical and tabular formats.
• Identify key impact areas and hotspots that require attention.
• Use the comparison feature to evaluate different design options or materials.

Step 6: Generating Reports

• Navigate to the “Report” section after reviewing results.
• Choose the type of report you wish to generate (e.g., detailed analysis, summary).
• Customize the report format and content as required.
• Download or export the report for sharing or presentation purposes.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a project in One Click LCA, input data, set up assessments, run analyses, review results, and generate reports. By following these steps, you can effectively utilize One Click LCA to assess and minimize the environmental impact of your building projects. For further exploration, consider delving into specific features like sensitivity analysis or benchmarking against industry standards.