Software helps designers make environmental choices for wall assemblies

A new life cycle assessment tool, called the Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies, is intended to help designers make sound environmental choices for building structures.
Morrison Hershfield, consulting engineers of Toronto, helped to develop the software in association with the Athena Institute and Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Building Research.
The “EcoCalculator” allows an impartial comparison of more than 400 common building assemblies, including exterior walls, roofs, floors, windows, columns and beams.
The comparison takes into account the materials manufacturing, construction, and recycling and disposal factors.
The tool is based on a lifecycle tool commissioned by the Green Building Initiative for integration with the Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system.
The Athena Eco-Calculator for assemblies is available at www.athenasmi.ca