【正文】 therefore their contribution to the total weight is independent [19]. The paired parison method [20] and the fuzzy ordering method [21] are usually suitable for plex ranking order problems. It is more suitable for decision making problems when the alternatives are quite petitive and interdependent to each other. The AHP method [22] has been applied in previous researches which are more suitable when the number of criteria and alternatives are massive and may be interdependent. For example, it has been used in building investment [23], final contractor selection [22], and dispute resolution strategy selection [24]. It is a good way to structure and break down a plex decision making process. Fuzzy logic has been applied in multicriteria decision making problems [25–28], group decisionmaking [29]。 however not all of them can be implemented in practice. In the current industrial environment, the application of sustainable design solutions in a project is limited by the affordability and risks the investors willing to take in practice. The opinions of the practitioners are crucial to the final decision. Therefore a feasibility study on the design options should be included in the decision making process. Workshop is the most direct and effective way to educate the practitioners by how much their project can benefit the environment by choosing the right design options. Meanwhile, their industrial experiences can provide us with the best feasibility evaluation on the sustainable design options. The existing sustainable design tools are designed for the general guidance of building design. These sustainable design tools for buildings mostly focus on the environmental impact of the buildings and the capital cost of the design options. However the life cycle costs and the practitioners’ opinion have been neglected, even they are just as equally important as the environmental impact. Buildings are longlasting products。 waste incineration with energy recovery posting of organic waste controlled waste water treatment。 harvested wood product management。 forest management。 improved energy efficiency.6. Forestrydforestation。 improved nitrogen fertilizer application techniques to reduce N2O emissions。 restoration of cultivated peaty soils and degraded lands。 material recycling and substitution。 alternative refrigeration fluids, recovery and recycle of flu orientated gases.4. Industrydmore efficient enduse electrical equipment。 improved cook stoves, improved insulation。 landuse and transport panning.3. Buildingsdefficient lighting and day lighting。 modal shifts from roadtransport to rail and public transport systems。cleaner diesel vehicles。 renewable heatand power.2. Transportdmore fuel efficient vehicles。fuel switching from coal to gas。Lifecycle assessment for sustainable design options of a mercial building in ShanghaiNannan Wang a, YenChiang Chang b,*, Chris Nunn ca School of Management, Shandong University, Shandong, Chinab School of Law, Shandong University, Shandong, Chinac Faithful tGould, 30th Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, London, UKa r t i c l e i n f oArticle history:Received 11 September 2009Received in revised form2 December 2009Accepted 5 December 2009Keywords:Life cycle assessmentSustainable building designMulticriteria decision makingGroup decision makingSustainability abstractBuildings are longlasting products which have huge impacts on the environment during their wholelives. The design of buildings should take into consideration longterm environmental and economic benefits. A life cycle assessment approach is developed and demonstrated in a case studydthe strategicdesign of a Flagship Store in Shanghai. Industrial practitioners were invited to the feasibility study. Their opinions were included in the life cycle assessment for the first time. The economic analysis takes account of not only the capital costs of the design options but also the running costs during the building’s economic life cycle. The methodology adopted is an integrated life cycle assessment process including life cycle costing, multicriteria decision making and group decision making methods. The workshops are successful in terms of educational opportunity for the practitioners and have obtained good feedbacks. The top 10 sustainable design options after the life cycle assessment process were chosen by the practitioners as the pulsory design strategies in their global environmental development agenda, whilst the other 32 design options as optional design solution for the international retailer’s future stores. The life cycle assessment tool demonstrated by a case study was proven to be a simple and efficient design tool in practice, and therefore it can be adopted in other projects to assist the decision makers. _ 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1. IntroductionThere are about 40 billionm2 of buildings in China and this figure will reach 70 billion in 2020 [1]. The construction industry has a significant impact on the environment. The energy consumptionrelating to buildings, such as building construction and operation, in China accounts for almost 50% of the total energy eachyear [1]. There are about 650 million tonnes ofwastes produced by the construction industry in China every year [2]. Design for sustainable buildings is an urgent task for the construction industry in building design reduces the influences of manmadebuildings to the environment during the buildings’ whole lives. It is vital for the investors to take into consideration the environmental influences of a building through its whole life, that is, from the initial construction process to the future operation stage of the building. There are various sustainability assessment toolkits beingimplemented in different countries. The BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) system is an integrated sustainability assessment tool used in the UK. This tool covers waste,