An introduction to Open LCA and the USDA LCA Commons

The Renewable Fuels Standards require greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting for biomass based biofuels to ensure biofuel production will reduce GHG emissions as compared to petroleum based fuels. Biofuel GHG emissions and environmental impacts can be determined using a framework called life cycle assessment (LCA). This framework provides a common method for analysts and is documented in the ISO 14044 LCA standard.

Biofuel production requires many different material inputs and produces a wide range of emissions that can be difficult to track and quantify often requiring the use of LCA software. OpenLCA software is an open source and free software that can be used to model life cycle emissions and impacts of biofuels and bioenergy.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed an LCA data submission application that will allow data formatted in openLCA to be submitted and disseminated through the USDA LCA Commons.

The goal of this webinar is to:
1. Introduce LCA and how it can help quantify environmental impacts
2. Create an understanding of the interactions between openLCA and preexisting datasets
3. Introduce the audience to the LCA Commons data entry tool
4. Communicate the benefits of using the LCA Commons data entry tool and openLCA
5. Demonstrate the capabilities of openLCA 4.0