Description: Lecture, three hours. Requisites: Life Sciences 30A and 30B, or Mathematics 3A and 3B (or 31A and 31B). Public discourse about current patterns of production and consumption of energy, and goods and services more broadly, suggest such patterns are environmentally and economically unsustainable. Introduction to basic concept of life-cycle assessment (LCA), including analytical frameworks and quantitative techniques for systematically and holistically evaluating environmental trade-offs presented by different alternatives. Focus on methodology of LCA to compute various material inputs and environmental releases from all activities associated with life cycle (i.e., raw material extraction, processing, end use, and disposal) of products or services. Discussion of strengths and limitations of LCA as tool for decision making. Students perform life-cycle analysis of one technology, product, or service of their choice. Concurrently scheduled with course C159. S/U or letter grading.

Units: 4.0