The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems has been researching and applying three related approaches to the life cycle assessment of products and materials as they relate to both the natural and built environments:
1) A specification data base that emphasizes products and materials with the following characteristics:
a) high recycled content.
b) supplied from regional sources.
c) low or negligible environmental impact.
d) net carbon sequestering.
2) A material flow and life cycle analysis procedure encompassing the continental U.S. enabling product and material specifications to respond to a spectrum of significant environmental and employment impacts.
3) The development of open building systems that respond to changing social and environmental needs.
Each of these three approaches is discussed in more detail