unit 2🐇 Flashcards
Define Renewable source.
Renewable resources is defined as a resource that can be replaced (or replenished) over time, or does not abate/ lessen in quality at all.
e.g. Woods like pine, wind, solar, or wave energy
Define Non-renewable source.
Non-renewable resources are extracted and used at rate greater than are replaced. Their rate of replenishment is not sustainable. Most non-renewable resources are carbon-based and need to be burnt to extract their energy.
e.g. oil, gas, nuclear, and coal (major contributors of greenhouse gases and air + water pollution).
Define Non-renewable source.
Non-renewable resources are extracted and used at rate greater than are replaced. Their rate of replenishment is not sustainable. Most non-renewable resources are carbon-based and need to be burnt to extract their energy.
e.g. oil, gas, nuclear, and coal (major contributors of greenhouse gases and air + water pollution).
Define reserves.
proven resources that can be economically and technically extracted.
Political and economic importance of reserves
-national borders
-balancing of political impact and economic benefit
-impact on local populations
-set-up costs
-supply
Define Recondition / Refurbish
The rebuilding of a product so that it becomes “good as new”.
Define Repair
Repair refers to fixing or renewing a worn out or broken component.
Re-engineer
the redesign of materials or components to improve the performance of a product.
What is LCA (Life-Cycle-Analysis)?
a tool that designers can use to measure the impact of their designs.
What is a Circular Economy (waste reduction)
The circular economy is an economic model where materials and resources in a system are in constant use. Waste is viewed as a resources and is brought back into the system to generate new products and services.
What are examples of innovation in a circular economy.
-the use of bioplastics that are made from renewable biomass
-Clothing subscription or rental services
Redesigning in a circular economy
-Within the circular economy, different business models need to be developed where users rent or lease a product or service, rather than purchasing it. For designers, this means rethinking and innovating to meet new contexts for manufacture, distribution, sales, and end of life.
-To design for the circular economy designers need to consider the systems the product moves in and how the materials will be recovered and reused. This may entail working with a group of organizations and companies to achieve the goal.
What are the two main categories of materials in a circular economy.
Biological and technical
Define biological materials.
materials that are renewable and come from nature (organic)
Define technical materials
materials that are manufactured and are finite in their quantities.
Describe a linear economy
-Take resources from nature, and generate waste in the process
-Make a produce a product using the materials, and generate waste in the process
-Dispose of the product and thus create waste
Energy Recovery/ Waste to energy (WtE)
Waste-to-energy (WtE) is a form of energy production that generates electricity through the treatment (usually combustion) of non-recyclable waste. These systems are typically quite large and complex and are usually implemented by municipalities or cities.
Types of energy WtE systems will produce:
-Electricity
-Gasification which produces a combustible gas such as hydrogen
Define WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive)
WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive) addresses the complex issue of recycling waste electronics by improving the collection, treatment, and recycling of these materials at their end of life.
Why is WEEE important/necessary?
-Electronic devices contain a mixture of materials and components that can be hazardous and cause environmental damage when disposed of improperly (e-waste)
-Poisoned workers, environmental damage, rising materials costs, and geopolitical tensions are some of the outcomes. In addition, many electronic devices contain scarce or vaulable resources (Gold, rare earth metals, etc.).
What is Raw Material Recovery?
This strategy involved the separating of raw components of a product in order to recover the parts and materials. By doing so, parts and materials can be sorted correctly and thus increase the quantity of materials available for recycling and reuse, and reduce waste.
What is Dematerialization?
dematerialization seeks to reduce the energy and materials used in the production, use, and end-of-life of a product, and thus reduce the impact on the environment.
What are examples of dematerialization?
-shifting from paper to digital communication (letter to emails)
-fossil fuels to solar power
-shrinking or miniaturizing a product so it uses less material
What is Light weighting/de-weighting?
the reduction of the quantity of materials to reduce overall weight which results in less material and energy use. Designers may make use of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and Generative Design to identify materials, forms, or processes that can reduce weight but still meet the same performance goals.
What is Finite Element Analysis?
the use of calculations, models and simulations to predict and understand how an object might behave under various physical conditions.
What is Generative Design?
a technology in which 3D models are created and optimized by cloud computing and AI.
What is Embodied Energy?
Embodied Energy is the sum of all energy need to produce and maintain a product or service. Designers can use an analysis of embodied energy to understand how their design choice impact the amount of energy use in their design.
What are components of Embodied Energy?
-Materials: Energy used to extract and produce materials used in the product or building
-Transport: Energy used to transport the materials to the factory or the building site
-Assembly: Energy used to construct the building or create the product
-Recurring: Energy used to maintain parts of the building, or to use the product
-Recycling: Energy used to recycle the components or parts of the build at the end-of-life.
What are Strategies for reducing embodied energy?
-Use less material
-Make choices in design and process that minimize scrap material
-Select low-embodied-energy materials
-Select low-energy construction systems
-Use naturally available materials or organic renewables
-Use durable materials and components
-Use materials with more reusable and recyclable potential
Define the concept of ‘Distributing Energy: National and International Grid Systems’
The energy grid is the system for distributing energy. It includes energy generation (power stations), powerlines over which electricity travels, and connections to homes, businesses and factories. Electricity is often produced far from where it is being used. The modern grid allows for multiple producers (generators using nuclear, coal, wind, to produce energy) to feed electricity into a system where it can be efficiently distributed to consumers.
Why do designers need to know about the grid?
National and international grids are not designed for small-scale energy producers to feed electricity into–they are only efficient at a large scale. Small-scale produces, like a homeowner with a solar array cannot feed any excess energy they generate back into the grid.
Define a smart grid.
A Smart Grid uses information technology to provide a real-time picture of energy production and consumption. Smart Grid technologies allow for small scale and sustainable energy producers to provide power. Smart grids make use of sensors and software to manage electricity distribution and consumption. A home dishwasher, for example, could be set to operate in the evening when power costs are lower, thus saving money.
Define Local combined heat and power (CHP)
Local combined heat and power is a technology that uses a single fuel source to produce both heat and electricity. This type of system means a consumer does not have to purchase energy from a local utility in addition to burning a fuel on-site to generate heat.
Advantages of CHP.
CHP systems have the advantages of reduced costs because heating and energy production are combined into one system and reduced emissions because of the combined system.
In some contexts, the excess heat generated by a factor is distributed back to the local community to heat homes in the winter.
Explain Systems for individual energy generation.
These are systems for the small-scale production of energy. These types of systems are typically used for single households with the goal of a zero- or low-carbon footprint. They are also implemented in situations where it is expensive or impossible to connect to the power-grid.
