Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of an Innovative Multifunctional Toilet

Carla Rodrigues, João Almeida, Maria Inês Santos, Andreia Costa, Sandra Além, Emanuel Rufo, António Tadeu and Fausto Freire
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Carla Rodrigues: ADAI-LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
João Almeida: Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal
Maria Inês Santos: Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal
Andreia Costa: OLI—Sistemas Sanitários, S.A., Travessa do Milão, Esgueira, 3800-314 Aveiro, Portugal
Sandra Além: Sanindusa—Indústria de Sanitários S.A., Zona Industrial Aveiro Sul, Rua Augusto Marques Branco, 84, 3810-783 Aveiro, Portugal
Emanuel Rufo: Sanindusa—Indústria de Sanitários S.A., Zona Industrial Aveiro Sul, Rua Augusto Marques Branco, 84, 3810-783 Aveiro, Portugal
António Tadeu: Itecons—Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal
Fausto Freire: ADAI-LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: Innovative toilets can save resources, but have higher embodied impacts associated with materials and electronic components. This article presents an environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) of an innovative multifunctional toilet (WashOne) for two alternative configurations (with or without washlet), comparing its performance with those of conventional systems (toilet and bidet). Additionally, two scenario analyses were conducted: (i) user behavior (alternative washlet use patterns) and (ii) user location (Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Saudi Arabia). The results show that the WashOne with washlet has a better global environmental performance than the conventional system, even for low use. It also reveals that the use phase has the highest contribution to impacts due to electricity consumption. User location analysis further shows that Sweden has the lowest environmental impact, while Germany and the Netherlands have the highest potential for impact reduction when changing from a conventional system to the WashOne. Based on the overall results, some recommendations are provided to enhance the environmental performance of innovative toilet systems, namely the optimization of the washlet use patterns. This article highlights the importance of performing a LCA at an early stage of the development of innovative toilets by identifying the critical issues and hotspots to improve their design and performance.

Keywords: bidet; eco-design; energy savings; life-cycle assessment; toilet; user behavior; washlet; water savings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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