topic 2 - eco/green design Flashcards
what’s a renewable resource?
a resource that can be replenished and never runs out.
what’s a non-renewable (or finite) resource?
a resource that will eventually run out.
difference between renewable and non-renewable:
renewable:
- don’t run out
- better for the environment - don’t release carbon emissions
- but are more expensive
e.g. hydroelectric, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass
non-renewable:
- limited and run out
- bad for environment - release carbon emissions
- cheaper
e.g. coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear
what are waste mitigation strategies?
it’s waste management which can help to eliminate materials directed to landfill.
what is re-engineer?
to redesign and improve/enhance the product
what is recondition?
rebuild the product so that it’s back to ‘new’.
what is dematerialisation?
reducing quantities of materials. e.g. making packaging lighter or the old mac book pro vs new
what is the LCA?
a technique to assess environmental impacts assossiated with the stages of the product’s life - cradle to grave or cradle to cradle.
what is clean technology?
products that reduce waste and require minimum amount of non-renewable energy.
local environmental problems:
- noise/air pollution
- soil and water pollution
regional environmental problems:
- drought
- waste disposal
continental environmental problems:
- acidification
- ozone levels
global environmental problems:
- impact on ozone layer
- climate change
- sea levels rising
what is green design?
to improve an existing product and redesign it to address environmental objectives.
what is eco-design?
more comprehensive than green design because it focuses on materials, energy, and waste.
what are the lifecycle stages?
- pre-production
- production
- distribution
- utilisation
- disposal
what is an end-of-pipe technology?
it’s technology that is put at the end of the manufacturing process to reduce pollution. e.g. a sewage system that recycles the dirty water and filters it
what is an incremental strategy?
a strategy that involves adding new features on a system in small increments. this so you don’t have to build the whole thing from scratch.
what is a radical strategy?
a strategy that involves creating new products or concepts. it is high-risk, high-reward.
is end-of-pipe technology incremental or radical?
it is incremental.
is clean technology incremental or radical?
it is radical.
what are the advantages of using an incremental strategy?
- Incremental costs less because you only have to add the technology to the end of the manufacturing production.
- it is quicker to do than radical.
- it can use existing trusted technologies.
- limited down time in production, meaning continued profits.
what are the advantages of using a radical strategy?
- radical is more beneficial for the environment because it addresses the whole process. it can make a sudden impact.
- it has high marketing image potential
- it is more financially beneficial in the long run.
what are the disadvantages of using an incremental strategy?
- environmental improvement is limited.
- the manufacturing process may take longer
- it requires long-term planning
it’s still reliant on non-green technology throughout the production.
what are the disadvantages of using a radical strategy?
- radical costs more in the short-term
- it has a large risk factor
- requires you to replace the whole system
- it has a high uncertainty of success.
- it has a high possibility of market resistance.
what are converging technologies?
