Life cycle assessment of an Icelandic higher education institution: the case study of the University of Iceland

This study applies recently published life cycle assessment (LCA) guidelines for higher education institutions (HEIs) to the Icelandic context and presents the first LCA of the University of Iceland (UI), based on data from the 2024 reference year. The assessment used the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method in Sphera LCA for Experts software to calculate environmental impacts across 16 categories. For the first time in this HEI LCA framework, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT was also assessed. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were applied to reflect island-specific conditions. Infrastructure and transport were the main environmental hotspots. Infrastructure dominated seven impact categories, while transport led in six. Key data gaps remained in equipment stockpiles and chemical use. The results demonstrate LCA feasibility in the Icelandic university context and identify priority areas for environmental improvement. Main limitations include generic European building datasets, missing Iceland-specific district heating data, uncertainty in air travel emissions, and AI modeling based on 41 survey responses. This study identifies priority areas for environmental improvements, particularly regarding air travel reduction and spatial optimization strategies such as shared workspaces. This study presents the first LCA of an Icelandic university and is among the first to include AI tool usage in this context. It provides a foundation for future LCAs and life cycle sustainability assessments (LCSA).