Authors
Tjäder, Maria; Hollberg, Alexander; Ingelhag, Gerda; Wallbaum, Holger

Abstract
Background In the early stages of a building project, there is low quantity and quality of data regarding building materials while the ability to influence the environmental performance is high. Easy ways of assessing environmental impact in these stages can make a big difference and shift buildings’ contribution to global warming towards a more sustainable track. Aim The aim of the project is to develop a parametric tool enabling early stage LCA of buildings. The tool should guide the user in lowering the embodied carbon from buildings by assessing building materials and building shapes. Method The method follows three steps • requirement definitions based on interviews and a literature study, • tool development, and • case studies for validation. The interviews are a crucial step to inform the later tool development and to make sure the tool is usable by the intended target group. Result The outcome of the project is a workflow for assessing and comparing building materials and building shapes in early stages. Additional results are identified industry needs and challenges. Conclusion The project shows that the integration of the users’ needs and expectations from the very beginning of the development of assessment tools will ensure the tools’ applicability in the design process.