Abstract
Purpose of this paper: The aim of this study was to investigate the benefits
of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for buildings across their life-cycles in South Africa.
Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the objectives of the study, a critical review of the literature was undertaken, coupled with a questionnaire survey to collect the primary data on the benefits of the LCA methodology for buildings across their entire life cycle. Through the review of the literature; the five major benefits of LCA for buildings were identified. This provided the basis for the formulation of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to all the professionals involved in the construction industry. The targeted number of respondents was 150; but only 116 questionnaires were returned. After a careful examination of the received questionnaires, only 98 were usable; and these formed the basis of the data analysis for the study.
Findings: The findings from the questionnaire survey revealed that the participants agreed that the use of a life-cycle assessment would improve building designs by making them more environmentally friendly, thereby building construction-project efficiency amongst others. The lowest-ranked factor was construction business-marketing territory; and it was ranked number 15.
Value of the study: The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the benefits of life-cycle assessment in the South African construction industry.