Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Definition:
A quantification of the level of energy and raw materials used as well as the solid, liquid and gaseous wastes produced at every stage of a product's life or process. LCA can be conducted for a whole process or for part of a process.
Example of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA):
In sustainable buildings, life cycle assessment is the key to keep track of resources being used and wasted. The data gathered by LCA is used to improve environmental practices.