unit 2π 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 βgood as newβ.
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.