Exergy-Based LCA of Buildings: Bridging Gaps Through Enriched Material Databases

Abstract

Exergy-based life cycle assessment (Ex-LCA) extends conventional LCA by incorporating the second law of thermodynamics, capturing both the quantity and quality of resource use. However, its application in building analysis is constrained by inconsistent and incomplete data on material exergies. This paper discusses the methodological origins of these discrepancies and proposes a framework for enriching material databases through multi-source reconciliation, reference environment harmonization, and uncertainty quantification. By integrating the approach within existing LCA workflows and aligning it with standards, the study aims at enhancing data reliability and comparability. The resulting framework enables more rigorous, exergy-informed sustainability assessments across building life cycles.