Embodied Energy Analysis

· Introduction to Embodied Energy Analysis :

To watch the video : click here

Embodied energy is an accounting methodology which goal is to find the total sum of the energy necessary for an entire product lifecycle

How to calculate the energy required for a product?

The embodied energy analysis gathers the energy required for a lifecycle product: including raw material extraction, transport, manufacture, assembly, installation, disassembly, deconstruction and/or decomposition.

Typical embodied energy units used are MJ/kg and tCO2.

What can we do of this analysis?

It can be useful to rethink our way of conceiving a product from the beginning to the end, which is not selling to a consumer but rather the product’s decomposition. It can also appear on the product to inform the consumer of the energy needed to build it.

However, we can deplore that there is still no international standards to do this analysis; therefore, we wonder if the consumer will really take a look at the embodied energy written in the product before buying it?

· Team members :

Thanks to Julien J, Marie Pauline L and Carole V, we have learned more about the embodied energy analysis.

· Bibliography :

If you are curious and if you want to go further on this subject have a look to these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IstoBVIFW4k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXzYoKtRqPg

http://www.scienceinthebox.com