Download User Manual and Transparency Document

There is also an option to import the bill of materials from a CAD design, which can be done in an
hour or so.
Remember that the IE4B is only recommended for building projects located in the US or Canada. As
with any LCA software and data, geographic relevance is critical – the IE4B contains highly detailed
data very specific to North American regions. Using this tool for a different world region will yield
questionable accuracy in the results.
Ready to go? Here are the steps to get started:
1. Go to www.calculatelca.com and create a user account.
2. Download the software – we have choices – most common is the 32-bit version.
3. When download is complete, open your downloads folder.
4. Open the readme file – important! – read this and follow the instructions to complete the
installation.
5. Watch our short demo videos – the overview video may be enough for starters.
6. Take it for a test drive. The IE4B will be intuitive for anyone familiar with typical Windowsbased applications – it has a standard menu bar and standard menu actions.
7. Need help? Watch the other videos, check out our FAQs, use this manual and don’t forget
that the IE4B has context-specific help embedded throughout the program – just click the
question-mark icon.
What’s under the hood
The Athena Institute is committed to transparency. Whenever possible, and where our limited
resources allow, we provide as much information as we can about the mechanics, assumptions and
data underlying our tools.
LCA Methodology
The underlying LCA method used in the IE4B is in alignment with North American standard practice
and is consistent with global best practices. We regularly update our methodology as required to
maintain compliance with ISO, EN and North American standards.
Scope and system boundary
The IE4B can model constructed works at any scale (whole-building, building element, construction
assembly, building product) and can be used for various types of buildings (residential, commercial,
industrial) and construction projects (new construction, renovation, refurbishment).
The geographic coverage of the tool is the United States and Canada.
The IE4B conforms to the EN 15804/15978 system boundary and reporting format. Table 1
summarizes which of the EN information modules (IM) are currently covered by the program and the
processes accounted for by each. While it is expected that some of the missing information
12