Life Cycle Anlysis

Tuuli provides accurate and automated Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for your buildings, regardless of design stage. Here's how we approach LCA calculations based on your building's design phase and the assumptions that drive our insights.

Buildings in Schematic Design

For buildings in the schematic design phase, where detailed material specifications may not yet be available, we utilize advanced estimation techniques to derive structural and facade quantities:

1. Input Data: We begin with your building’s floor plan and massing information.

2. Structural and Facade Estimation: Using proprietary algorithms, we calculate structural and facade quantities by estimating the loads the building will experience:

   • Lateral loads

   • Dead loads

   • Live loads (tailored to the building's use type).

These calculations ensure that we capture the fundamental requirements for structural integrity and facade performance.

1. Baseline Embodied Carbon Calculation:

   • We use baseline materials aligned with the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment for the Built Environment guidelines.

   • Embodied carbon data for these materials is sourced from EC3 (Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator).

2. Material Adjustments (if provided):

   • If you provide a bill of materials or specific material information, Tuuli incorporates these into the model, replacing the baseline materials.

   • The building's embodied carbon is then recalculated to reflect this data accurately.

3. Output: This process produces an initial embodied carbon report for your building.

Note: Opportunities for reducing embodied carbon through optimization are identified in this phase and covered in more detail here.

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Buildings in Detailed Design or Later

For buildings in the detailed design stage or beyond, Tuuli performs a more granular LCA to account for precise material specifications. We conduct a detailed analysis of the materials provided, sourcing embodied carbon data from EC3 to ensure accuracy and alignment with industry standards.

Automated Gap Filling

When material data is incomplete or missing, Tuuli uses automated gap-filling algorithms to ensure analysis continuity. Missing material specifications are inferred based on the building's type and use case, leveraging our database of similar projects to predict likely material choices. Industry benchmarks, such as baseline materials from the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment, provide additional guidance. Furthermore, inferred materials are selected to meet the necessary structural and performance requirements. All assumptions made during this process are transparently documented in the final report for your review.

Digital Twin Creation

A digital twin of the building is generated to test alternative materials and scenarios. This allows Tuuli to explore embodied carbon reduction opportunities without affecting the building's core design.

Output

Detailed embodied carbon reports are provided, reflecting the precise materials and design of the building.

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Speed and Automation

Tuuli’s platform is designed for speed and precision:

• Automated Workflows: From massing to material selection, the entire LCA process is automated.

• Proprietary Algorithms: Our software rapidly calculates material quantities and embodied carbon, reducing analysis time from days to minutes.

• Scalability: Whether you're analyzing one building or a portfolio, Tuuli's process is streamlined to deliver results quickly and consistently.

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By combining advanced algorithms, industry-standard data sources, and user-provided inputs, Tuuli delivers robust and actionable LCA insights at any stage of the design process.