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Renewable Resource
A natural resource that can replenish with the passage of time or does not abate at all. Examples include solar, wind, hydro, wave, tidal, thermal, and biofuels.
Renewability
Refers to a resource that is inexhaustible and can be replenished quickly enough. For example, softwoods like pines are considered renewable, while hardwood trees take longer to mature and are considered non-renewable.
Non-Renewable Resource
A natural resource that does not replenish at a sustainable rate and will eventually run out if extraction rates are maintained. Examples include fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, coal, and nuclear energy.
Reserves
A natural resource that has been identified in terms of quantity and quality. Proven reserves are those that can be economically and technically extracted, while some resources may not be viable yet, like gold in seawater.
Economic and Political Importance
The impact of resource extraction on national security, international relations, and local economies. For instance, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was influenced by oil reserves and market conditions.
Re-use
Utilizing an object more than once, either in its original context or for a new purpose. For example, using plastic bottles multiple times or repurposing car tires.
Recycle
The process of converting materials from obsolete products into new products. This reduces the need for new raw materials, lowers energy usage, and decreases pollution.
Repair
The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing structure or device to restore its functionality.
Recondition
Rebuilding a product to an "as new" condition by repairing, cleaning, or replacing parts. Examples include refurbished car engines or electronics.
Re-engineer
A significant redesign of a product to improve performance or efficiency, often using recycled materials or new technologies. For instance, the Dyson Ball Vacuum Cleaner.
Dematerialization
The reduction of total material and energy use of a product through various stages of its life cycle, such as smaller packaging or virtual products.
Product Recovery Strategies
Processes for recovering parts and materials from products at the end of their life, including recycling, trade-ins, and employing a circular economy.
Embodied Energy
The total energy required to produce a product, including all energy consumed throughout its lifecycle, from production to disposal.
Energy Utilization
The method with which energy is used to perform a task or provide a service, aiming to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
National and International Grid Systems
Electrical supply distribution networks that can be either national or international, allowing electricity to be transmitted across borders and used in different regions.
Energy Distribution
The process of transporting energy from a source to the end-users, including domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers.
Local Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
A system that simultaneously generates heat and electricity from a single fuel source, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly energy solution.
Individual Energy Generation
The capability of individuals or small communities to produce their own energy through small-scale devices, reducing reliance on centralized power grids.
Quantification of Carbon Emissions
The process of numerically defining the amount of carbon emissions produced by a particular product or activity, to understand and manage its environmental impact.
Mitigation
Human interventions aimed at reducing or preventing carbon emissions to lessen their impact on global warming and climate change.
Energy Storage
Methods of capturing and storing energy for future use, including batteries and capacitors, to ensure a reliable supply of energy.
Battery
A device consisting of electrochemical cells that converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy, used to power electronic devices.
Capacitor
An electronic component that temporarily stores electrical energy for quick release when needed.
Capacity
The amount of electric charge that a battery or capacitor can deliver, measured in amp-hours.
Green Design - Cradle to the Grave
Designing products to have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life, from raw material extraction to disposal.
Sustainable Products
Products that offer social and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare, and the environment throughout their lifecycle, from extraction to final disposal.
Design Objectives for Green Products
-Materials Efficient use, minimization of different materials, labeling for recycling, and resource efficiency. -Energy Increasing efficiency in energy use. -Pollution/Waste Ensuring product lifespan, minimizing safety hazards, reducing long-term harm, and considering disposal effects. -Consumer Pressure Collections of individuals with a shared environmental viewpoint who take action to promote positive change, influencing corporations and governments through voting and purchasing power.
Legislation
Laws addressing specific topics, encouraging the design of greener products by setting standards such as material restrictions and energy efficiency.
Plastic Labelling
Government legislation requiring plastic products to be labeled by type to aid in recycling.
Catalytic Converter in Cars
Laws requiring car manufacturers to install catalytic converters to reduce emissions, promoting incremental changes in environmental technology.
The Designer's Role
Modifying the environmental impact of a product through careful design considerations, including material choices and manufacturing processes.
Incremental Strategies
Small, gradual improvements to product design over time, focusing on material use, manufacturing techniques, and design for disassembly.
Radical Strategies
Major, fundamental changes to product design or manufacturing processes, aiming for a complete overhaul to address environmental issues differently.
Eco-Design
A design strategy focusing on materials, energy, and pollution/waste, aiming to reduce environmental impact.
Cradle to Grave
A design philosophy considering the environmental effects of a product from manufacture to disposal, a key principle of the linear economy.
Cradle to Cradle
A design philosophy aiming to eliminate waste by creating products that can be reused or recycled, a key principle of the circular economy.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
The assessment of a product's environmental impact through its entire lifecycle, including pre-production, production, distribution, utilization, and disposal.
The Prevention Principle
Avoidance or minimization of waste production through proactive measures before damage occurs.
The Precautionary Principle
Anticipating potential environmental problems and taking precautionary actions to avoid risks, even if scientific evidence is inconclusive.
Eco-Design Software
Software tools like Autodesk Inventor and Eco-designer that allow designers to perform LCA and optimize designs for environmental impact.
Product Cycle
The cycle that a product goes through from introduction to withdrawal or discontinuation, including stages of introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.
Converging Technologies
The merging of technologies such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science to create multifunctional devices, with both advantages and disadvantages.
