Why this matters
A branch can look efficient on its monthly energy bill while its construction, refurbishment and occupancy assumptions point to a different environmental picture.
What the evidence suggests
The historical RS Locals academic assessment explored embodied and operational impacts within a chosen system boundary. Its estimates depended on incomplete building data and should not be treated as a verified current company footprint.
What it looks like in practice
Life cycle assessment is most useful when its boundary and uncertainty are visible. It can help compare a retrofit, renewal or relocation, provided the functional use and time horizon are genuinely comparable.
Practical next steps
Three things leaders can do now
Define the decision and assessment boundary before collecting data.
Record actual meter and building information separately from estimates.
Test how the result changes under different lease and utilisation assumptions.
Phull Insights Perspective
The view beneath the headline.
An imperfect but transparent assessment can improve a decision. Hidden assumptions, not uncertainty itself, are the bigger risk.
Adapted from Pupsi Phull's postgraduate research and professional reflections. Views are personal.