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Related Concept
  • sustainability, environment
  • life cycle assessment (LCA)
  • envelope materials
  • building: simulation of building processes



    • Related References
  • Trusty, W. B. and Meil, J. K., (2002), Building life cycle assessment: residential case study




    		• Essay:

    ATHENA Project

    This link was checked on Dec. 2006Athena (www.athenasmi.ca/)

    The ATHENA Project was instigated to develop a practical, easy-to-use computer-based decision tool that will provide high quality environmental data. The ultimate goal of the project is to encourage the selection of material mixes that will minimise a building's life cycle environmental impact.

    ATHENA is a computer model which assists building designers and researchers make environmental assessments of building materials. It assesses the impact on the environment of various building materials, from a life-cycle perspective.

    ATHENA is the result of a five year research program involving a unique alliance between architects,environmentalists, economists and engineers. The program is co-ordinated by Forintek Canada, and supported by Natural Resources Canada.

    The Research Alliance includes steel, concrete and wood industry representatives and academic researchers such as the Environmental Research Group from the University of British Columbia and the Centre for Construction Studies from the University of Western Ontario.

    The Project has recently been incorporated as a not-for-profit research organisation under the banner of the ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute. The Institute is dedicated to fostering sustainability of the built environment.

    ATHENA currently encompasses steel, wood and concrete structural products and assemblies. The model covers life cycle stages from natural resource extraction through manufacturing of individual products to on-site construction, including all related transportation. It provides a full environmental inventory as well as selected impact indicators.

    ATHENA will be expanded to include other materials used for building, and to include the operations stage of a building life cycle as well as demolition and disposal.

    A prototype version of the model has been released to a limited number of reviewers and work is proceeding on a commercial version which will be released in the near future.

    It is difficult to assess the environmental impact of a structure in an absolute way (Ref. 4). However, material choices in building design can be made on a relative rather than absolute basis. ATHENA provides an objective and reliable basis for comparing the environmental effects of one material with another.




    More info of this article can be found on the web at: This link has not been checked.http://www.athenasmi.ca




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