DEA: A Method for Ranking the Greeness of Design Decisions

Abstract

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is employed as a tool for understanding the environmental consequences of design decisions. In this study, DEA is applied to fifteen materials using six different environmental indexes. Based on this analysis it is determined that four materials are efficient for all environmental indexes. Two materials are inefficient for all indexes and nine materials are efficient for at least one index. From the perspective of environmental impact it is found that some materials should be priced over five times their market price. How DEA can be used for design decisions is also considered.