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Whole life costing: an integrated approach



Title: Whole life costing: an integrated approach
Author(s): D. K. Rutter, D. P. Wyatt
Paper category : conference
Book title: International Symposium on Intergrated Life-Cycle Design of Materials and Structures
Editor(s): A. Sarja
Print-ISBN: 951-758-408-3
e-ISBN: 235158029X
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2000
Pages: 113 - 116
Total Pages: 4
Nb references: 10
Language: English


Abstract: Life-Cycle Costing (LCC) is a well-established methodology for enabling the cost impact of alternative design solutions to be compared throughout the life of the building. The costs however have been confined to those borne by the decision-making owner under normal I contractual arrangements and other legal obligations.
As a methodology for decision making, LCC is inadequate on a number of accounts. Not least because it fails to incorporate environmental issues into the calculation. LCC also suffers a credibility problem in that there is no automatic link with the maintenance strategy for the building throughout its useful life.
This paper contends that the current approach to procurement frustrates any attempt to widen the agenda regarding an integrated life cost system. It then proposes a more comprehensive methodology based on the work on Multiple Criterion Decision Analysis, which, it argues, is more representative of the way actual complex problems are handled.
Finally this paper argues that the way forward to linking an environmentally inclusive whole life cost mode1 with the life care strategies of buildings is to radically revise the procurement, financial and management systems. This is necessary to ensure that decisions, which form the initial part of a process of total building performance evaluation, are followed through to the end of the life of the building with corresponding accountability on the part of the
decision-makers.


Online publication: 2000-04-30
Classification: LlFE CYCLE ACCOUNTING. OPTlMlZATlON AND DECISION-MAKING
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/235158029X.022


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