SUSTAINABLE DESIGN - Environmental design/eco-design Anthony Leonsins & Carmen Briner
CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY ‘seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ – Brundtland Report, 1987 Evolved from a variety of concerns, experiences and needs • 1970’s oil crisis • Recycling efforts • 1980’s ‘sick building syndrome’
Design impacts environment in many ways Sustainable design – Skillful and thoughtful designing of objects Doing better with less
BACKGROUND TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
1. Air pollution • • • • •
CO2 and other Ozone depletion Transportation – raw material to finished product Waste disposal via burning Effect on humans – resp problems, eye irritations, allergies, carcinogenic and teratogenic
2. Water pollution • Increased usage of water • Wastewater pollution – wildlife and environment
3. Noise pollution • Industrial machinery
4. Deforestation
PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Design to minimise environmental and social impacts. Analyse each stage of the product life cycle Design for the environment • Process design • Material design • Energy consumption design
Strategies - Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Restore Goal – 100 % cyclic, safe and renewable
LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS
end of life – recycling, landfills, liquid waste, gas emissions etc‌
energy & emissions during normal product life, required maintenance & product reuse
material harvesting & transportation to manufacturing sites
material processing & transportation to production sites
manufacturing, assembly, packaging, transport to final destination
DAVID COLWELL Sustainable Furniture Designer
‘Do the mostest with the leastest’ British Furniture Designer - chairs 1944, London Royal College of Art Trannon Design - Wales Believes in ‘form follows function’ – style is by-product of the piece’s use, making and context • Context today – include need for sustainability • • • • •
LOOKING AT THE PROCESS…
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE • Raw Material Acquisition • Processing • Manufacturing • Waste Management • Product Life
Raw material acquisition Wood – 100% natural • not always a sustainable resource • UK 90% timber is imported • timber industry – want tall trees with side branches. Trees initially planted close to each other – grow faster. As get bigger thinning. • 4 out of 5 original trees planted are felled • Thinnings - left to rot - sold cheaply for pulp/firewood
ASHWOOD – material of choice • Strongest and fastest growing – faster it grows = stronger • Self-seeding • Absorbs more atmospheric carbons than any other tree
• Since young trees are the strongest – thinnings are used • Affordable • No sapwood – less wastage • Low moisture content – dries quicker & no extra processes needed to augment drying • Endemic to UK - plentiful - transport
Processing & Manufacturing STEAM BENDING Simple process Strips of wood are heated using a steam box – wood pliable
Best trees to bend are young trees ie: thinnings Green wood is used • Therefore less energy needed to bend Process of steam bending simultaneously seasons wood • Recently cut wood = Green wood which is unseasonsed, ie: not dried • Wood is normally dried - over time - forced drying in Kiln • Therefore less energy used as no kiln drying needed also less time, money and noise.
Waste Management Ashwood has no sap – less wastage No Kiln drying – less energy expended and wasteful by-products Minimal planing (shaping) and sanding of wood – less waste (sawdust)
Product Life AESTHETIC FORM AND FUNCTION The triangular geometry - strength and durability Tubular rivet construction using recycled copper plumbing pipe rivets for all joints - durable Chair is ergonomic and looks nice - long term sustainability
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011
R.B.E. Holistic socioeconomic system No money No credit No debt
Resources become the common heritage of all of the inhabitants Earth is abundant with plentiful resources
NO MONEY?
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Designed by Jacque Fresco © 2011
New Society based on fundamental principles of science and the comprehensive knowledge of the interrelationship between people and the environment  Â
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011
CYBERNATED GOVERNMENT
Jacque Fresco The Venus Project Founder Â
Designs by Jacque Fresco © 2011