Research project | Q-LCA. Analysis of the environmental impact of different settlement structures in new residential areas over their life cycle
How to reduce the primary energy demand of buildings has already been sufficiently researched and tested. The grey energy generated during the construction of buildings, including upstream production processes, has also been well researched. The construction sector also has sophisticated tools for assessing the environmental impact of buildings over their entire life cycle (production, construction, operation). However, the situation is different in the field of urban planning. Although far-reaching and long-term decisions are made in urban development, there is no comparable method for calculating the ecological impact of settlements over their entire life cycle. To close this gap, Leibniz University Hannover and the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences have developed a model for life cycle analysis at the district level (Q-LCA).
Methodologically, Q-LCA differs from conventional assessment models in terms of the larger number of factors used to assess the ecological implications of settlements. In addition to the construction and heating supply of buildings, the model also takes into account building types, acess types (roads + sewerage) and the urban density of the settlement. The second difference lies in the recording of material quantities. For this purpose, 54 settlement segments were developed in which the above-mentioned factors can be weighted differently. A total of 972 variants could be generated in this way.
These settlement segments represent the smallest units (100 x 100 metres) that can be assessed using Q-LCA. They can be combined to form various urban structures, allowing a wide range of existing and planned settlements to be assessed.
For methodological reasons, the Q-LCA project was limited to assessing new neighbourhoods. The follow-up project, BQ-LCA, expanded the scope of research to include the assessment of the transformation of existing settlements.
- Prytula, M.; Rieniets, T.; Rosenberger, J.; Hack, J.; Stallmann, L.; Gebhardt, N., 2025: Q-LCA: Analyse der ökologischen Auswirkungen unterschiedlicher Siedlungstypen in Neubauquartieren über ihren Lebenszyklus. BBSR-Online-Publikation 51/2025. Bonn. here
- Rieniets, T., Rosenberger, J., Prytula, M., Hack, J., 2025: Q-LCA. Städtebauliche Merkmale einer klimaorientierten Quartiersplanung. here
In cooperation with: Potsdam University of Applied Sciences
Comissioned by: Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR)
Duration: 2022 – 2024
