Sustainable Design Project by A J Robertson

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01 - Process 1. Diagnose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Discover

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04 08

3. Define . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4. Develop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Conclusion

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- Bibliography - Akcnowledgements

16 22

Emily Pilloton

re is always a better way. I believe that design is a human instinct, that people are in

be defined as a design problem or solved with a design solution.

I believe that design is problem solving with grace and foresight. I believe that the

herently optimistic, that every man is a designer, and that every problem can either

INTRODUCTION What do we mean when we say we are ‘DESIGNING A NEW SUSTAINABLE PROCESS’? To make this affirmation totally clear I think it is necessary to previously define the meaning of each concept. To DESIGN, according to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, is: 1. To make a drawing or plan of something that will be made or built; or 2. To plan or develop something for a specific purpose. [1] A more philosophical description is given by Emily Pilloton in her book ‘Design revolution’ where she writes that ‘design has always been the most direct

manifestation of two human instincts: to shape our physical environment and to improve life.’ [2] This last definition highlights the importance of design in the world today; if we want to improve life for present and future generations, we must learn to be aware of the ecological, economical and social impact of what we design. In other words, we must learn to take sustainability into account. SUSTAINABLE is something that can be continued over a period of time, that is, that can be sustained. [3] SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, therefore, is that which can be sustained over a long period of time without causing any harm, and in an ideal situation, will bring about an improvement. It is important to not confuse the term sustainable design with green design. ‘While “green” means environmentally responsible, “sustainable” encompasses all aspects of responsibility and foresight: environmental, social, economic, cultural, and humanitarian.’ [4]

[1] http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/design_2 [2] Design revolution. P 12 [3] http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ [4] Design revolution. P 15

Therefore, to DESIGN A NEW SUSTAINABLE PROCESS we must plan and develop a system that has the speciﬁc purpose of encompassing all aspects of responsibility and foresight (environmental, social & economic) to the practice of design. In this report we will go over the four D’s, the essential steps of any sustainable design project:

1. DIAGNOSE: Determine your scope of action and identify a need. 2. DISCOVER: Research technological and material resources. 3. DEFINE: Review findings and define the solution. 4. DEVELOP: Take action.

Remember that ‘every project has the potential to be more sustainable.’ [5] If you think through each step with sustainability in mind, you will undoubtedly achieve a sustainable outcome.

[5] Design management. P 184 (by Lynne Elvins, co-founder of A420)

PROCESS 1. Diagnose To successfully produce a creative and useful idea we have to previously gain knowledge of the environment in which it is going to be a part. Different people from different countries and cultures will have different needs and also different resources with which to produce solutions.

In this case we will focus on Britain and the British population. ‘The ﬁrst

rule of humanitarian design is to design with – not for – your client and community.’ [6] Therefore, for the time being we must learn from sources available here and now, which in the case of Britain consists of a wealth of information easily accessible through books and networks.

[6] Design revolution. P 38

The first step is to research governmental data to gain an understanding of the country’s current situation. The aim is to find out what the nation’s most pressing issues are, what measures are being taken to remedy them, and how we can participate in becoming part of the solution. As designer David Vogler said, ‘I believe good

product solutions begin with observing and fulﬁlling a vacant niche. My best ideas usually come from a perceived gap in the market intersecting with my abilities and interests.’ [7] One of the key issues in today’s society is energy, in particular the production and development of renewable energy sources. In 2007 it was estimated that of all the

energy consumed in the UK only the 1.8% came from renewable energy sources. The percentage of primary energy derived from major sources was as follows: [8] • Oil: 38.0% • Natural gas: 37.7% • Coal: 16.7% • Nuclear power: 5.8% • Renewable: 1.8%

In 2007, a new energy policy was set out by the British Government, an international and domestic energy strategy to address the long term energy challenges. The scope of energy policy includes production and distribution of electricity, transport fuel usage, and means of heating (significantly Natural Gas). The policy recognizes:

“Energy is essential in almost every aspect of our lives and for the success of our economy.” Therefore, two long-term energy challenges have been established: • Tackling climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions both within the UK and abroad; and • Ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy as we become increasingly dependent on imported fuel. [9] [7] Education of a design entrepreneur. P 12 (by David Vogler, principal of David Vogler Design) [8] http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page39771.html [9] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_the_United_Kingdom#cite_note-2

Looking at the world today, three years after Britain agreed to this policy, it is obvious that there is still much to be done to achieve these goals. There is a need and

for every need there is a creative solution. Renewable energy is usually associated with solar panels, wind power, and hydro electrics. But one thing that is not usually taken into consideration is a humanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to produce power. In 1977, during tests in Oxford, Stuart Wilson demonstrated that an average cyclist can generate 75 watts of power an hour travelling at normal road speed. Wilson also found that at 18 mph it is possible to produce 200 watts for short periods, while 750 watts is possible only for a second or so, under extreme load. These calculations show that human/mechanical energy, if harnessed, could add to existing battery banks, or could be set up alone to run appliances. [10]

Technology has advanced greatly since those days and a human-powered generator is no longer a mere idea â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it has become a reality. However, the generator itself needs to be placed in an environment where it can reach its full potential.

[10] http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/pedalpower

2. Discover In the gym, when working out on standard exercise equipment, all the kinetic energy generated by the body’s movement remains unharnessed. Many of us

have wondered why the exercise equipment wasn’t hooked up to a system capable of generating electricity and fed back into the grid. Finally, a company in Florida called ReRev has developed a way to convert existing elliptical machines into sources of power allowing athletes/clients to burn off extra calories while creating free renewable energy. It’s certainly not a new idea to transform kinetic energy into electrical energy, but up until recently nothing was commercially available. ReRev’s system easily converts existing equipment into power-generating machines, so when you step on and start moving, most of your energy generates DC power. The DC power is then sent to an AC converter and consequently on to the grid.

An elliptical cross-trainer with a ReRev system will generate around

50 Watts of power in 30 minutes; enough to power a CFL bulb for 2.5 hrs, to charge a cell phone 6 times, to run a laptop for 1 hour, or a desktop for 30 minutes. When you add up all the people coming into the gym throughout the day and using these machines, you could produce some serious power! [11] In the UK, there are an estimated seven million members of private and local authority gyms, using about 6,000 health clubs. [12] Supposing half of those people managed to do one hour of exercise a day, gyms in the UK could be producing 450,000 Kilowatts daily. That is enough energy to supply a large fridge for 95 years, a desk computer for 642 years, or a 40 watt halogen light bulb for over 1284 years! [13] But the crucial question is: Does this actually work? Is anyone

[11] http://www.rerev.com [12] http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/jul/29/moneysupplement3 [13] http://www.absak.com/library/power-consumption-table

using it? And the answer is YES, it does work and people ARE using it. Texas State University has already created what could be the biggest human power plant in the world. Using 30 elliptical exercise machines, students are helping to produce great amounts of renewable energy which is fed back into the university’s power grid. Concerned about the environment, students from Texas State University are strongly supporting this initiative. Graduate student Nathan Head, interviewed by Fox news, said: “It’s something that I already enjoyed

doing, so if it’s helping to produce power somewhere else, then why not use it?” [14] Many other institutions are following their example and turning their universities into sustainable human power plants. In these cases the energy produced is being used to power the facilities themselves, but if the power were channelled into an energy-saving environment, the overflow could be exported and sold to bigger energy suppliers. Therefore, extending the use of these human-powered energy generators could suppose a considerable contribution to renewable energy sources. At the 7th World Wind Energy Conference in Ontario, Canada, one of the most important agreements reached was the Feed-in laws.

‘Feed-in tariffs legally oblige utility companies to buy electricity from renewable energy producers at a premium rate, usually over a guaranteed period, making the installation of renewable energy systems a secure investment.’ [15] Therefore investors can be assured that whatever the amount of energy produced, whether it is big or small, there will always be someone interested in buying it. [14] http://www.rerev.com/inthenews.html (Fox 7 News) [15] http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008192.html

The conclusion we draw from this is that producing renewable energy is equal to producing money. But just how much money? If we study the efficiency of ReRev’s elliptical exercise machines and the price of the Kw/h in the UK, we can work out the following equivalence: * At EDF Energy, the average price of 1 Kw/h in the UK is 8.38p. [16] * If one person can produce 100 watts in 1 hour, he is producing 0.1 Kw/h. * This means that in order to produce 10p, a person would have

to exercise almost 12 hours! These calculations make it clear that the generators are not effective at an individual level, but if we recall the amount of energy that could be produced by only half the gym members in the UK doing one hour’s exercise a day, which was 450,000 kilowatts, and convert that into pounds, the amount of money they could produce each day ascends to £37,710! That is £263,970 a week! £13,764,150 a year! This reminds me of the principle of Holism, which Aristotle concisely summarised saying:

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts”. ‘Holism (a Greek word meaning whole, entire, total) is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone. Instead, the system as a whole determines how the parts behave.’ [17] This is how we should understand the human energy source. It is not one individual alone who is going to make a difference, nor is he going to be capable of setting up a system on his own; but if a group of people work together towards a same purpose, that is when change is going to happen.

[16] http://www2.savetodaysavetomorrow.com/documents/OSV6-Ratecard.pdf [17] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism

‘Too many people spend too much time trying to perfect something before they actually do it. Instead of waiting for perfection, run with what you’ve got, and fix it as you go.’ Paul Arden

3. Deﬁne After reviewing the previous information it was determined that the ReRev power converters were the most suitable and ecological system for producing human energy, due to the fact that the installation could be done on old machines, eliminating the need to purchase new ones. The exchange rate showed that there was little point in creating an individual system, for the amount of energy generated by only one person was quite small. It also made us realise how little energy is worth in monetary terms; however, in energetic terms –that is, what can be done with the energy– the amounts generated proved to be much more valuable. For this reason it would be more logical to use the energy to cover energetic needs than to exchange it for money.

Through the ReRev web page and multiple TV news clips it has been possible to study the success of the ReRev systems at Texas State University and other institutions. The testimonies given by the users prove that people are concerned and willing to support the new sustainable technologies and are more than willing to use a gym which provides the opportunity to generate clean energy.

HUMAN ENERGY Kinetic energy from your workout is converted to DC (Direct Current) and sent to the ReRev System.

CURRENT CONVERTER ReRev converts the DC current into AC (Alternating Current), the form of electricity used by homes and businesses.

RENEWABLE ENERGY The electricity can then be used to power the building.

Due to these facts –most importantly the energy/money exchange rate– the initial proposal was developed over a period of three months, resulting in a solution that encompassed much more than just health and energy. The ‘Charity Gym’. The ‘Charity Gym’ would be like any other gym in terms of facilities –sanitary facilities and exercise machines (donations or second hand purchases)– but with the revolutionary addition of energy generators on all the equipment. As energy can’t be stored, whatever electricity was produced during the workout would be fed back into the grid, powering the gym’s facilities for free; and any excess of power would be sold to the energy suppliers. As a recognised charity, the ‘Charity Gym’ would benefit from tax concessions like exemption from corporation tax on profits, a zero VAT rating on the sale of donated goods and 80% mandatory non-domestic rate relief. This 80% relief is funded by central Government, and a further 20% rate relief is available at the discretion of local authorities. [18] The membership price, therefore, would be noticeably inferior to a typical gym membership, but sufficient to cover the gym’s remaining running costs, and send meaningful donations. In Sean Deacy’s article “Consumer test: Gym membership” from ‘The Guardian’, we can read that an average gym membership costs from £30 to £50 a month plus an initial membership fee [12]. Therefore offering a reduced membership of £10 to £15 would surely draw some attention, and would be enough to collect an important donation at the end of the month. We intend to be differentiated from other charities by giving our clients the choice of where their money goes and detailed information of what is being achieved with it. “In today’s globalised business world, it is important that a

company and its products are noticed and stand apart from those of the competition.” [19] Kathryn Best rightly says that ‘customizing products

[18] http://www.charityshops.org.uk/faqs_shop.html#tax%20concessions [19] Design management. P 120 (by Professor Ralph Bruder)

and services is an invaluable way to achieve competitive advantage through design because it creates ‘unique’ offers for consumers.’ [20] Using the technology available, a site where customers can log-on, find their organisation of choice, and register as donors, can easily be created. This site would also provide real-time information about the amount of exercise done, the amount of energy created, the amount of money donated, and what is being achieved with it. With this, our intention is to let people find their own motivation. Not everyone’s

concerns are the same; therefore we think people will be more willing to help if they can choose what to contribute to.

[20] Design management. P 118

“Success is a journey,

not a destination.” Ben Sweetland

4. Develop The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Charity gymâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; could be greatly beneficial to everyone in many different ways, as a study of the cycle will clearly demonstrate. The system is simple yet complete, for it addresses various issues and brings together many stakeholders into a cycle of mutual benefit. (By bringing important stakeholders like EDF Energy, ReRev, University of Plymouth, the British Government, and a large number of charity organizations into a cycle that benefits and promotes all, we hope to find support when it comes to financing the project.)

G: British Government R: ReRev E: EDF Energy C: Charity Organizations

The gym attracts customers by being innovative, ecological, charitable, and cheap.

The customers produce energy thanks to the Rerev installation (R) which, in addition to the tax concessions (G), contributes to covering the maintenance costs of the gym. In the event of energy overflow, the extra power is sold to a utility company like EDF Energy (E). This way the system benefits & promotes EDF Energy as an ecological business, greatly benefits the world for producing renewable clean energy, and also benefits the customer by contributing to his/her health.

3. Of the money gained from the membership payment, a small portion is used to maintain the gym and the rest of it is given to charity (C). This benefits the gym, but more importantly it benefits the people who receive the charity, making a difference in their lives and their community. 4. Lastly, by giving the customers the choice and the information of what is done with their money, we also make the donors feel happy and satisfied and willing to come back, which in turn benefits the gym and attracts more customers, helping to create new jobs.

EXAMPLE: • John, 33 year old male, likes to keep fit by going to the gym three times a week. He spends an hour and a half on each workout. o If the average person can produce 100 watts in one hour, John is producing 450 watts a week, 1,800 watts a month, and 23,400 watts a year. John is saving the ‘Charity gym’ around £2 a year in electricity costs, which is a very small amount; but he is also paying £15 a month, only 50p a day, that at the end of the year sums £180. Overall, John has donated £182; an important amount of money for someone in a developing country. •

150 members, with an average attendance similar to John’s could produce: o 67’5 kilowatts a week, 270 kilowatts a month, and 3,510 kilowatts a year. Altogether they are saving the gym almost £300 a year in electricity costs; but they are donating an impressive amount of £18,000.

At an individual level, we can see that the donation made is substantial; however, the energy produced, although worthy in energetic terms, seems insignificant in monetary figures. However, when we do the same calculations for a large group the figures are much more convincing. When considering these facts, it is plain that the ideal situation for the ‘Charity Gym’ would be for many more establishments to be opened all over the country, providing altogether a meaningful source of renewable energy. However,for now we will “Start with a single project on a modest scale. Start with

a project that can produce visible and useful results within a limited time and at a modest investment. Then, even if it’s at a small scale, it will contribute to ‘selling’ the idea (…) and thus pave the way for larger projects in the future.” [27] The business would be launched as an “open business”, an enterprise whose business model is run on open standards, free and open source software and open content principles; and focuses on creating open products and ser vices. This approach would guarantee that the business is run for the benefit of all, and not just for one group of stakeholders. This way the individuals themselves play a central role. [28] Business transparency, the lack of hidden agendas and conditions, accompanied by the availability of full information required for collaboration, cooperation, and collective decision making [29]; is also a characteristic which we believe is essential to this enterprise. The idea that ‘the individuals themselves play a central role’ is the most important aspect of this project. As mentioned before when referring to the principle of Holism, it is the contribution of each and every person that will manage to make this enterprise successful. However, to gain participation, it is essential to successfully communicate to the people just how beneficial the system could be for them.

[27] Design management. P 58 (by Jen Bernsen) [28] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_transparency#cite_note-0 [29] http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/transparency.html

If we think of the 7 million people in Britain who hold a gym membership, willing to spend time and money just on themselves, imagine how many people

we could involve if they knew they were doing something for the planet, for the needy AND for themselves, all in the same package! There are a lot of people out there with an enormous feeling of impotence about the world’s current economical and ecological situation; people who would be more than willing to help if they were given a chance. The ’Charity Gym’ could be that chance, an opportunity to help the poor, help the planet and help

the body, all at the same time.

‘L e t ’s r s o the tha ewr des t th ite ign ey our an d w thin bub may own her kin ble, be a jo b g e i p n gre cre is a pl plic desc ate ativ sca ace abl rip st p e p rc s w e o tion E oten robl e re here utsid s mi tia em sou de e ly P l fo so rce sig l , r n v i i illo mp ng ton act has .’ . the

CONCLUSION Although it has not been possible to actually put the idea into practice, after reviewing the information available and studying the creative applications carefully, it would appear that the system would work. It is satisfying to reach such a rounded solution after such a long and complex process; proving once again that imagination is never-ending, and if you push yourself hard enough, a satisfactory conclusion is always possible. Regarding sustainable design, the ‘Triple bottom line’ is evidently fulfilled in the ‘Charity Gym’; for thanks to this concept, improving people’s lives, the planet and our own health could be achieved in the same workout. The profit issue is also addressed in an unselfish and socially responsible manner, reinvesting practically all the income back into the system. Regarding social entrepreneurship, I agree with Emily Pilloton when she states

that ‘by adding design to the social entrepreneurship equation, we

form a symbiotic equation between people, product and proﬁt, bringing design to more socially and ﬁscally sustainable arenas; while giving enterprises a tangible and deliverable tool around which to structure production, job creation, and economics.’ [30] And finally, regarding my own professional practice, I believe that there are many unsolved needs in the world and that for every problem there is a solution. But I don’t believe that everyone has the capability or the resources to solve their own problems, therefore I think that as designers we have an obligation to put our abilities at the service of those who need them most, and do it wholeheartedly for the people, getting to know them and working with them, and accepting their gratitude as a invaluable wage.

[30] Design revolution. P 17 [31] Design revolution. P 25

‘While art is merely statement, design is statement, action and solution, making it a much more viable candidate for trust and belief.’ [31] We are the designers. We are responsible. We are in the front line in this war against world decay and destruction. We are the ones who can make a difference…

Let’s make it!

BIBLIOGRAPHY ARDEN, Paul. ‘Watever you think, think the opposite.’ Published in the UK in 2006 by Penguin Books. BEST, Kathryn. ‘Design management. Managing design strategy, process and implementation.’ Published in Switzerland in 2006 by AVA Publishing SA. GODIN, Seth. ‘Purple cow. Transform your business by being remarkable.’ Published in the UK in 2002 by Penguin Books. HELLER, Steven. ‘Education of a design entrepreneur.’ Published in the USA in 2002 by Allworth Press. PILLOTON, Emily. ‘Design revolution.’ Published in the UK in 2009 by Thames & Hudson Ltd.

SAWYER, Keith. ‘Group genius. The creative power of collaboration.’ Published in the USA in 2007 by Basic Books. SILVERSTEIN, David; SAMUEL, Philip; DECARLO, Neil. ‘The Innovators toolkit.’ Published in the USA in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

WEBOGRAPHY -

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.absak.com

http://www.berr.gov.uk

http://www.businessdictionary.com

http://www.charityshops.org.uk

http://www.doorsofperception.com/

http://www.edfenergy.com

http://www.guardian.co.uk

http://www.humboldt.edu

http://www.ldoceonline.com

http://www.rerev.com

http://www.worldchanging.coml

http://www2.savetodaysavetomorrow.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS QUOTES Page iii – Emily Pilloton. Design revolution. P 10 Page 3 – Kathryn Best. Design management. P 158 Page 7 – John Thackara. In the bubble. Intro. Page 11 – Paul Arden. Whatever you think, think the opposite. P 53 Page 15 – Ben Sweetland. www.1designsource.com/quotes.html Page 21 – Emily Pilloton. Design revolution. P 41

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