Assessing building's environmental indicators using multivariable statistics

Background/Question/Methods

Life-cycle analysis LCA is an interesting approach to environmental and social issues. This approach is key to the sustainable construction concept. 
LCA combined with other statical analysis, remind an important tool for use in applying life-cycle thinking to building and construction. This importance comes from 
the fact that LCA can yield vital information on material and energy flows. We propose here some refinements of the different environmental indicators by using principal components analysis to characterize the relationship between GHGs, primary energy consumption, primary energy process, non-renewable energy, production of recovered waste, radioactive waste, pollution air, acidification, resource depletion, and finally water consumption products.

Results/Conclusions

we show taht it is indispensable to take the lifetime of a wall into consideration if responsible decisions are to be taken in the choice of technical solutions
intended to optimize environmental performance.