LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS |
© 1993-2000 Fred Tepfer 1380 Bailey Avenue Eugene, OR 97402 |
Life cycle cost analysis is sometimes used to make informed choices of building
materials and systems. It is not an exact science and it is very subject to
manipulation, so it is best made by the facility owner or be carefully reviewed
by the owner.
In a nutshell, life cycle cost analysis predicts the total cost of a material,
including maintenance, over its predicted life. By dividing original cost plus
maintenance by the predicted life span, you can generate an estimated annual
life cycle cost which can be compared to annualized life cycle costs for other
options.
Life cycle cost analysis does NOT usually take into account important factors
such as disruption for material replacement/reconstruction, degrading appearance
or usefulness as a material ages, or the esthetic or immediate functional value
of differences between materials. For example, it doesn't account for a heating
system that provides a higher level of comfort nor for the esthetic difference
between brick and cheap plywood siding.
It is not practical nor valuable to perform life cycle cost calculations on
all of the thousands of materials used in a building. It is often used on materials
most subject to wear and tear, such as:
| floors roofs siding/building skin materials windows doors door hardware |
toilet partitions plumbing fixtures and fittings lighting systems lighting controls heating/ventilating controls furnishings, espcially seating |
The spread sheet linked from here has a
hypothetical example of a life cycle cost analysis of floor materials. Be warned
that the numbers are hypothetical and don't represent actual research.
TRUTHS:
Life cycle cost analysis, if rigorously performed, can be a useful tool for
selection of building materials and systems.
MYTHS:
Life cycle cost analysis is an exact science.
Whitestone Building Maintenance and Repair Cost Reference
Whitestone Research
PO Box 1250
Seattle, WA, 98101