Life Cycle Assessment or Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is the

• A. environmental impact
• B. maintenance schedule
• C. total cost of purchasing, operating, and maintaining equipment
• D. system efficiency

Answer: (C)

Life cycle cost analysis looks at the total cost of owning and operating equipment over its entire life. It adds up everything from the purchase price and installation to ongoing operating costs, routine maintenance, repairs, replacements, financing, and eventual disposal or salvage. This full-span view helps you compare options on economic merit rather than just the upfront price or a single performance metric. For example, a more expensive unit that uses much less energy may end up cheaper over 15 years when you include lower operating costs and fewer maintenance needs. This is why the best choice is the total cost of purchasing, operating, and maintaining equipment. Life cycle assessment would focus on environmental impacts, while maintenance schedule and system efficiency describe plans or performance, not the overall cost picture.