In this paper, environmental product declarations, EPDs, and in particular a Stepwise EPD approach is investigated as a means to overcome the communication barrier.
This article proposes the use of current European standards and verification rules for environmental product declarations (EPDs) as a basis for evaluating the climate impact of contractors' alternative designs of infrastructural projects.
Using holistic approaches such as life-cycle assessments, environmental product declarations, and Design for the Environment, the conflicts and trade-offs between attributes become more apparent, gaps can be identified, and the complete environmental footprint of a product throughout its entire life can be quantified.
Some owners, architects or designers insert certain criteria into the building specifications, such as environmental product declarations that require certain sustainability standards, explains Heather Gadonniex, head of the building and construction team at PE International, a consultancy that specialises in life cycle assessment.
ISO 21930 (ISO 2007) and EN 15804 (CEN 2012) give guidelines for developing environmental product declarations for construction products.
The first principle states that "where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation" (Rio Declaration, 1992).
But why, after working so hard on his environmental manifesto and political declaration of independence, did Mr. Gore accept Mr. Clinton's invitation?
The National Religious Partnership for the Environment, a convener of members of faith community on environmental issues, facilitated a declaration by senior religious leaders and scientists on climate and air pollution in 2004.
The California Academy of Sciences, a research institution in San Francisco, conceived of its new 409,000-square-foot building, which opened in 2008 with a design by Renzo Piano, as a declaration of environmental sensitivity, making it metaphorically green in its use of resources and literally green with an undulating sod-covered rooftop.
Laguna Beach planners intend to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact for the road extension.
