The building sector is responsible for almost 40% of the European final energy consumption. Huge amounts of raw materials are also consumed along with their associated embedded energy. Depending on the chosen indicator between 10 and 60 % of the environmental impact of a building is a result of the build phase and materials used. LCA comprises a comprehensive accounting of all material and energy inputs to the building throughout its life cycle and consolidates the results in the form of an environmental evaluation of the building. It can also be supplemented with a costs database in order to report in detail the economic costs incurred throughout the life cycle, known as Life Cycle Costing.
 
The project aims to draw on the existing information generated from previous research projects regarding: design for low energy consumption, integrated planning, evaluating of environmental performance of building, design for sustainability and LCA techniques applied to buildings. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) in construction projects is becoming more and more of a priority in EU public procurement and building related projects. It may become mandatory at an EU level for some public procurement in the future. This action will serve to support further dissemination of LCC to industry by links with current initiatives.
The output which will be compiled with the collaboration of key target groups will be a set of guidelines with a methodology which clarifies the various aspects of the LCA, e.g., purpose, benefits, needs, flexibility and different techniques. This will be applied to real buildings by a number of collaborating target groups who have already expressed their interest.