green design

Question 1

what is green design?

Answer 1

• focus of green design is on the re-engineering of a design to reduce its environment impact
• Focuses on making changes that are typically incremental in nature: switching to a recyclable material, reducing energy in manufacturing or use, increasing durability of the product
• Typically focuses on one or two environmental objectives, such as switching to sustainable materials or reducing energy usage or reducing pollution and waste (MEP)

Question 2

objectives of green design (material)

Answer 2

• material

> environment friendly materials

> minimise materials

> label materials to identify for recycling

> maximise efficiency of materials/resources

Question 3

objectives of green design (energy)

Answer 3

> reduce energy usage during production/use

> increase energy efficiency in production/use of a product

Question 4

objectives of green design (pollution and waste)

Answer 4

• pollution and waste

> maximise the planned life of the product (eliminate planned obsolescence) - for example through easy disassembly and repair

> reducing environmental damage/pollution during material extracting/processing

> reducing noise and smell pollution

> consider environment friendly disposal at end of life

Question 5

drivers for green design

Answer 5

• consumer pressure

> Increased public awareness puts pressure on corporations

> Consumers may also seek products that provide energy savings in the long run

• Legislation

> environmental legislation such as eliminating use of certain chemicals/materials or achieving certain level of energy efficiency

> non implementation usually leads to penalties

> usually encourages incremental rather than radical changes

Question 6

Methodology for implementing incremental changes

Answer 6

• slowly use more recycled materials as time goes by
• Replace plastics with bioplastics
• Produce longer lasting/better functioning products to reduce replacement
• Design products to be reused
• Limit raw materials used gradually
• Design for disassembly

Question 7

Methodology for implementing radical changes

Answer 7

• complete revision or innovation of your product through

> complete overhaul of manufacturing systems

> and using radical clean technology systems