The recommended way to carry out a complete Building Life Cycle Assessment, is through our native integration with One Click LCA ®, a powerful yet easy to use LCA and LCC platform. The integration enables DesignBuilder users to:
Note: The One Click LCA integration uses the material names selected in the DesignBuilder model, mapping them to certified data contained in the extensive One Click LCA database. The embodied carbon data entered in the DesignBuilder Materials database is not used in these analyses.
DesignBuilder's One Click LCA integration allows you to automatically submit the materials included in an EnergyPlus model to One Click LCA for analysis and reporting. The process is described below.
1. Set the model up with the required material definitions. This step requires no extra work for most simulation models.
The materials data is extracted from the model as follows:
Opaque materials - material quantities are calculated by summing the area and thickness of construction material layers for each surface in the model. The embodied carbon data for each material is defined later within One Click LCA by mapping project materials to data points in their database.
Component blocks - material quantities for non-flat component blocks are included on a volumetric basis using the Component block material setting. Flat component blocks are exported with zero thickness.
Glazing - for glazing defined using detailed layers, the quantities of glass embodied carbon is calculated using the Glazing CO2 carbon emissions and Glazing coating embodied CO2 settings on the Carbon tab of the Model options dialog and the area of windows x number of panes of each. For Simple glazing, the number of panes data is used to multiply up a standard glass element of the defined window area.
PV panel - a separate line item for PV panels is included in the data submitted.
Note: PV panels must be connected to a Load centre to be included in the analysis.
2. When the model has been set up as required, click on the One Click LCA toolbar icon 
to start the submission process.
3. If any errors are encountered, you will be asked whether you would like to review them.
Click Yes to open the error log file in the application associated with the .txt file extension, typically a text editor such as Notepad.
If errors are reported, the usual reason is that materials referenced by constructions or component blocks are missing from the model. See example errors below.
4. You will be prompted to save the materials inventory in a spreadsheet report format. Enter the name of the report to be saved on your local machine and press the Save button.
5. Once the report has been created, you will be asked whether you would like to upload it to One Click LCA.
6. At this point, you can check the materials inventory spreadsheet you saved locally to make sure it reflects the data you would expect to see for your model, and if necessary, make any adjustments before uploading it. The screenshot below shows an example materials inventory spreadsheet for a simple model.
7. If you are happy with the report, press Yes to upload it to One Click LCA.
8. To access the data uploaded on the OCL website, you must first sign in using the web form shown below.
9. When signed in you will be presented with the OCL "Settings" page where the process of refinement and reporting begins.
For more information on the integration see:
Note: You should contact One Click LCA to obtain a licence to access their online system from DesignBuilder.