Activity 10: Adventures in Life Cycle Assessment
Overview
This activity provides an opportunity for students to investigate actual life cycle data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) U.S. Life-Cycle Inventory Database. Students imagine that their school has asked them to decide which type of outdoor dining furniture should be purchased for a new cafeteria patio. Using a humorous three-act play (with an option for one-act) or group presentations, students uncover life cycle data for the greenhouse gas emissions of pine, aluminum, and plastic resin furniture. Their worksheet calculations reveal the best solution for concerns about climate.
Downloads
Student Pages
- LCA Play Script Student Pages (1 act)
- LCA Play Script Student pages (3 act)
- Life Cycle Information Student Pages
- Comparing Outdoor Furniture Student Page
Presentations
Answer Key
Supporting Materials
Links
- Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (CORRIM) – Research and resources related to life cycle assessments, including several videos, presentations, and fact sheets.
- Life Cycle Impacts of Forest Management and Wood Utilization on Carbon Mitigation – Short article examining the complexities in accounting for carbon emissions in life cycle analyses, given the many different ways that wood is used.
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Life cycle assessment database, providing data on the energy and material flows associated with producing a material, component, or assembly in the United States.
- Which Do You A-Door? Comparing the Energy Needed to Make Wood and Steel Doors – Article, written for secondary students, describing research that compares portions of the life cycle for wood and steel doors.
Teacher Comments
Having students draw or make a life cycle diagram and explaining the steps is a great way to assess learning, especially when they have to explain it to the class.
Lots of good conversations about the notion that forestry practices when sustainable are good/better; this was where I heard the issue of sustainable forestry practices coming into play more than other activities.
Under the assessment strategies, it asks students to draw a life cycle diagram and describe each stage. I used this as a teaching strategy rather than an assessment tool. I also had students write a letter to the administration recommending their choice and giving details to support that choice.
Teacher Tools
Systems Exercises