Week 5 SI Flashcards
What is Whole System Mapping (WSM) in sustainable design?
WSM is a technique for visualizing and analyzing all the interconnected components in a system to identify areas for sustainable improvements.
How does WSM differ from Cradle to Cradle?
While Cradle to Cradle focuses on product cycles and material reuse, WSM offers a qualitative, big-picture view to improve system-wide sustainability without strict quantitative metrics.
What is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
LCA is a systematic method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or process throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to disposal.
List the four main phases of an LCA.
1) Goal and Scope Definition: Define the purpose and limits of the assessment.
2) Inventory Analysis: Gather data on material and energy inputs and outputs.
3) Impact Assessment: Assess the environmental impacts of these inputs/outputs.
4) Interpretation: Summarize results to guide sustainable decisions.
Explain the concept of a “functional unit” in LCA.
A functional unit is a measure of the product’s function (e.g., impacts per square meter vacuumed) to standardize comparisons between products or processes.
What are “cradle-to-grave” and “cradle-to-cradle” approaches in LCA?
Cradle-to-grave assesses impacts from creation to disposal, while cradle-to-cradle includes recycling or composting, aiming for circularity.
What is a “Fast-Track LCA”?
A simplified LCA method used when detailed data is unavailable, providing quick insights into a product’s environmental impacts for rapid decision-making.
Describe an example of how LCA is applied in product comparison.
LCA might compare the environmental impacts of a glass bottle vs. an aluminum can by assessing impacts per use cycle, accounting for factors like recycling and reuse.
What are the limitations of LCA in sustainable design?
LCA can be time-consuming, data-intensive, and complex, often requiring assumptions that may introduce uncertainty or limit accuracy.
Why is data quality critical in LCA?
Accurate, high-quality data is essential in LCA for reliable results, as poor data can misrepresent impacts and lead to unsustainable decisions.
How does Whole System Mapping support a circular economy?
WSM enables designers to identify points in the system where materials, energy, or waste can be optimized, supporting circular resource flows.
