Materials & LCA

Buildings are merely ideas until someone begins to form them, and then the complex decision-making around materials specification and building service life come into play. At 7group, we believe those choices should be driven by materials that are abundant, renewable and locally sourced. They should be recyclable, non-toxic and have low embodied energy. It goes without saying that their extraction, manufacture and disposal do no harm to people or the planet.

7group members have been leaders in the use of Life Cycle Assessment tools to guide materials specification.We are affiliated with Athena Institute International, and 7group has been deeply involved in the development of the building assessment software and databases which are integral to the advancement of this important area.

Across the continuum — from structural to finishings and furniture, sustainable materials represent some of the latest advancement in building science in the past decade. 7group’s expertise serves as an active participant in such innovation.