A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for construction products has been established with UK construction materials producers. The method provides "level-playing field" LCA for all types of construction materials. Environmental Profiles provide a consideration of materials as part of building elements, including maintenance and replacement. A software tool called ENVEST TM uses this data to analyse the whole building. This gives the impact of the structure and operational impacts of a design over a set lifetime, in UK Ecopoints. The use of Ecopoints for life cycle assessment results enables environmental issues to be integrated into life cycle design alongside financial costs
