Ch.3 Green Design

Question 1

· Green Design:

Answer 1

Products that have a benign or reduced affect on the environment for their entire life cycle.

Question 2

· Renewable Resources:

Answer 2

are consumed at a lesser rate than they are replaced by natural process.

Question 3

· Non-renewable Resources:

Answer 3

include materials that, due to their rate of depletion and the extreme time scales involved in their formation, are finite and therefore exhaustible.

Question 4

· Life Cycle Analysis:

Answer 4

A tool to support decision making for manufacturers when assessing the impact a product or process has on the environment.
Considers:	
Extraction of raw materials
Production
Packaging
Use
Maintenance
Disposal

Question 5

· Design for Manufacture:

Answer 5

Design for Manufacture is a technique/tool used to reduce production costs through considerations of efficiencies of design, manufacturing and assembly.

Involves refining the product by optimizing its design to improve rates of production and/or quality.

Areas can include:
minimize material scrap, efficient machine time, reduced material use, reduced part numbers required, not requiring surface finishes to be smoother than necessary, using proper tolerances for the design.

Question 6

· Design for Materials:

Answer 6

A process by which designers select appropriate materials with the aim of reducing toxic substances, hazardous waste, polluting emissions and the quantity of materials required.

Question 7

· Design for Process:

Answer 7

A process that involves reductions in: the amount of energy consumed, number of production processes employed, waster generated and emissions produced.

Question 8

· Design for Assembly:

Answer 8

An approach used by designers to analyze components and sub-assemblies with the goal of reducing costs through the reduction in the number of parts and maximizing the efficiency of assembly process.

Question 9

· Reuse:

Answer 9

involves repeated use of products or components employing the same or an alternative purpose than originally specified. Glass containers, plastic drink bottles, fabric bags, etc.

Question 10

· Repair:

Answer 10

restore a product or component to a good or sound working condition after deterioration or damage.

Question 11

· Recondition:

Answer 11

process by which products may be returned to their original manufactured condition (or close to). Reconditioned engines, retreaded tires, computer upgrades vs replacement

Question 12

· Recycle:

Answer 12

a series of activities including collection, separation and processing. Materials may be reprocessed back to their original form and use or may be reprocessed into something else

Question 13

· Eco-Labeling (general definition):

Answer 13

A label that tests, certifies and communicates environmental performance of products.

Not all labels are the same. To have true meaning there must be standards and measurable data to earn a certification.

Ex:
Energy Star in the U.S.
Ecolabel in the EU