P.I.s plan to do research to develop quantitative measures of the environmental impacts of construction materials used in the engineering designs of pipelines, and residential and commercial buildings. They will assess the material and energy inputs (nonrenewable and renewable resources), as well as the emissions and waste (toxic discharges, hazardous waste generation, criteria pollutant emissions, greenhouse gas discharges, ozone-depleting chemical releases) associated with the construction materials' life cycle. The objective is to provide metrics and analysis tools that can help define environmentally-conscious construction. A computer spreadsheet tool will be programmed to provide easy access of construction and environmental professionals to this research's results and allow for informed decision-making.
