Design and Technology Grade 9 - Unit 1: Green Design

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the definitions and key concepts of Green Design, pollution effects, and sustainable materials from the Grade 9 Technology Studies curriculum.

Technology Studies

A subject comprising two strands: Design and Technology, and Food and Textiles Studies.

Green Design

The practice of designing products and systems considering their environmental impacts throughout their life cycles, from manufacture and use to disposal.

Microgram per cubic metre

The unit of measurement used to determine pollution levels.

Mauritius air pollution level

The average air pollution level in Mauritius, recorded as $14.95$ based on Index Mundi 2015.

Causes of

Water pollution

Occurs when liquid wastes from factories contaminate canals, rivers, lakes, and ground waters, affecting aquatic animals.

Wastage of materials

Considerable loss of raw materials in the manufacturing sector due to excess use and poor planning, leading to more landfill sites.

Air pollution

Occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances, including gases and particles, are introduced into Earth’s atmosphere.

Life cycle analysis

A method used to measure and evaluate the impact of a product from the extraction and processing of raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal.

Obsolete

A state where a product becomes outdated, old-fashioned, or out of use.

Eco-materials

Environmentally friendly materials that do not affect the environment throughout their life cycles.

Pandamus utilis

A plant whose dried leaves are used to make products such as mats, placemats, lamp shades, slippers, and baskets known as 'Tant Bazar'.

Eco-cement

A material composed of cement and municipal waste material in the form of ash, used to make countertops.

Bamboo fibre

A strong, flexible, and soft material made from the starchy pulp of bamboo plants.

Biodegradable materials

Materials that decay naturally without harming the environment.

Biodegradable plastic

Plastic that decomposes through the natural breakdown of its structure in the environment, used for bags and bottles.

Biodegradable carton

A material obtained from waste materials like used-up boxes and paper products, used for packaging, stationery, and egg cartons.

Coconut coir and peat

Biodegradable and organic materials made of coconut fibre used for seed germination pots in nurseries and greenhouses.

Eco-house

An environmentally low-impact house built using materials and technologies that reduce its carbon footprint and lower energy consumption.

Plastic waste in oceans

The amount of plastic found in the sea each year, estimated by the Green Peace Organisation to be between $8 \times 10^6$ and $12 \times 10^6$ tonnes.