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

material harvesting & transportation to manufacturing sites

material processing & transportation to production sites

manufacturing, assembly, packaging, transport to final

destination

energy & emissions during normal product life, required maintenance & product re-

use

end of life – recycling, landfills, liquid waste, gas emissions etc…

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

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 socio-

economic 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?

???

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    

CYBERNATED GOVERNMENT

Designs  by  Jacque  Fresco  ©  2011  

Jacque Fresco The Venus Project Founder  

Designs  by  Jacque  Fresco  ©  2011