Environmental Relative Burden Index: a Streamlined Life Cycle Assessment Method for Facilities Pollution Prevention

This paper describes a new semi-quantitative streamlined life cycle assessment (SLCA) method, the Environmental Relative Burden Index (ERBI), for describing and ranking the relative environmental burdens associated with facility operations and maintenance options. The long-range goal is for this ERBI method to serve as a pollution-prevention decision support tool for facilities managers, when faced with competing operations and maintenance alternatives. The specific application presented in this paper evaluates asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP) management options in public school facilities. The ERBI methodology is adapted from previous streamlined semi-quantitative LCA methodologies and is described in detail. The ERBI is then employed to evaluate the relative environmental impacts of six management strategies for these hazardous building materials: management in-situ, encapsulation/containment, and full abatement/disposal, for both ACM and LBP. SLCA goal definition, system boundaries, ERBI matrix, and overall ERBI Ratings (RERB) for each material management strategy are presented. The ERBI can be a useful tool in prioritizing building maintenance alternatives, especially in cases where detailed quantitative data are unavailable.