Sustainable Rainwater Management and Life Cycle Assessment: Challenges and Perspectives

Igor Catão Martins Vaz, Rodrigo Novais Istchuk, Tânia Mara Sebben Oneda and Enedir Ghisi ()
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Igor Catão Martins Vaz: Department of Civil Engineering, Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Rodrigo Novais Istchuk: Department of Civil Engineering, Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Tânia Mara Sebben Oneda: Department of Civil Engineering, Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Enedir Ghisi: Department of Civil Engineering, Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: Rainwater harvesting is a promising technique for more rational water use. However, its sustainability merits remain a subject of ongoing debate among researchers. Life cycle assessment (LCA), a method employed to measure the environmental impact of varying solutions, is helpful in this regard. Accordingly, this paper delivers an integrative review based on the PRISMA protocol, outlining challenges and potential avenues for the LCA application to rainwater harvesting. The central findings indicate that while residential buildings are most commonly examined, more consensus is needed on a uniform analytical framework. Furthermore, several benefits of rainwater are often not considered in LCA and need further exploration to understand possible synergies for its broader implementation. Finally, LCA integration with a life cycle cost assessment (LCCA) shows exciting results as it may be a more straightforward showcase of the benefits of an integrated assessment. It is concluded that specific details of the LCA of rainwater harvesting may still be simplistic. There is much work to be done in holistic assessments to prove the system’s sustainability.

Keywords: rainwater; life cycle assessment; buildings; sustainability; simulation; integrative review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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