Which statement correctly distinguishes Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost analysis?

• A. LCA evaluates environmental impacts across a product or building life cycle; LCC compares total ownership costs over time
• B. LCA focuses on aesthetics; LCC on taxes
• C. LCA and LCC are interchangeable terms
• D. LCA ignores energy use while LCC accounts for energy costs

Answer: (A)

LCA evaluates environmental impacts across the life cycle of a product or building, while LCC looks at the total ownership costs over time. This means LCA tracks things like energy use, emissions, and resource depletion from design through disposal, focusing on environmental performance. LCC totals all costs tied to owning and operating the system—purchase or construction, energy and maintenance, repairs, replacements, and end-of-life—over its expected life.

That clear distinction is why this choice is the best: it correctly separates what each analysis measures (environmental effects vs. economic costs over time). The other statements miss important points—for example, LCA does consider energy use and environmental impacts, LCC isn’t just about taxes, and the two terms are not interchangeable; energy costs can appear in LCC and are relevant to the economic analysis.