Free-cost software tool for the environmental assessment of Energy-using products based on Life Cycle Assessment

Kurzfassung

A Spanish R+D+I SME has developed a free-cost software tool for the environmental assessment of energy-using products based on Life Cycle Analysis. This easy-to-use tool allows assessing the environmental profile of products considering their complete life cycle. It facilitates the eco-innovation process in companies and it is aligned with the Energy-related products Ecodesign Directive. They are looking for a license agreement or a commercial agreement with industrial partners, especially SMEs.

Details

This free-cost software tool has been developed under the LiMaS project (funded by EACI - Eco-Innovation 2008 call). This project tries to facilitate the implementation of life cycle thinking and Eco-Innovation in SMEs that manufacture Energy-using products (see more details at www.limas-eup.eu). It is downloadable for free in English, German and Spanish from the LiMaS website (after registration).
The first step to improve the environmental profile of products is to know it. This free-cost software tool allows easy assessment of this profile, considering their complete life cycle (from raw material extraction to end-of life scenarios). The user could define its products using an environmental database of about 160 materials/processes (specific for Energy-using products). The aspects to be defined include product characteristics (e.g. Bill of materials), manufacturing processes, distribution, use (including consumables) and end of life scenarios. Depending on the information available, the user could define the level of detail of this characterisation.
Once the product is defined, the user could assess the environmental profile of the product using the proposed 16 impact indicators (from global warming potential to water or energy usage) or some of them.

The results are presented numerically and graphically and they could be exported in EXCEL spread sheets or jpg format respectively.

The software database is based on the Methodology study for Ecodesign of Energy-using products (MEEUP), developed by VHK for the European Commission (MEEuP Methodology Report, Final / 28.11.2005 / VHK for EC). This methodology is used in the preparatory studies associated to the Energy-related products Eco-design Directive (2009/15/CE).

The expertise of the SME R+D+I consultancy covers software development and Eco-Innovation. Its staff has more than 15 years of experience working with Life Cycle Analysis and Eco-design. This background allows offering a tool for non-environmental experts due to the used approach.

Innovative Aspects:
The offered software tool could provide the following benefits to the users:
• Quick and easy knowledge of the environmental impacts associated with their products/processes, considering their complete life cycle (e.g. global warming potential, etc.)
• Identification, quantification and prioritisation of the most relevant environmental aspects of their products to focus the improvement efforts on them
• Comparison, from an environmental point of view, of different design alternatives and communication of results in a quantitative way
• Alignment with future implementing measures associated to the Energy-related Products Eco-design Directive (it uses Methodology study for Ecodesign of Energy-using products database and rules).