LCA of low-energy flats using the Eco-indicator 99 method: Impact of insulation materials

Sustainable housing is receiving increasing attention by policy makers, architects, consumers and scholars. This study aims at enhancing our knowledge on the environmental impact of sustainable houses by performing a Life Cycle Assessment on a single case study. The case study is performed on a single low-energy building containing 19 flats using the Eco-indicator'99 method. The results indicate that the choice of insulating materials has a significant impact on the eco-score of the design. The materials' production turns out to be by far the most influential, which bears the consequence that architects and consumers should focus on choosing the best materials in terms of eco-score instead of focusing on an environmental-friendly design. Waste recycling (if possible) has a lower eco-score compared to waste disposal (dumping or burning).