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Unit 9: Environmental Design
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Lecture 9
Environmental Design
STRUCTURE
Overview Learning Objectives 9.1 Environmental Design (ED): An Exposition 9.1.1 Principles of ED 9.1.2 Benefits of ED 9.1.3 Motivation for ED 9.1.4 ED and other environmental practices 9.2 ED for Manufactured Products 9.2.1 ED considerations in product life stages 9.2.2 Tools for product ED 9.2.3 Concept of eco-labelling 9.3 ED for Buildings 9.3.1 Green buildings 9.3.2 Principles of green buildings 9.3.3 ED strategies for building construction 9.3.4 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 9.4 ED for Developmental Planning 9.4.1 A framework 9.4.2 Indian examples Summary Suggested Readings Case 9.1: Cleaner Production Programmes in India Case 9.2: Indian Initiatives in Environmental Design of Products Case 9.3: Indian Initiatives in Environmental Design of Buildings Model Answers to Learning Activities
OVERVIEW
In the last two decades, the manufacturing sector has been undergoing changes to meet diverse requirements that include maintaining high quality at low cost, staying competitive in a global marketplace, and meeting consumer preferences and regulatory
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demands for reduced environmental impacts. As a result, environmental management is increasingly becoming proactive i.e., anticipating and preventing environmental problems. Designing for the environment or environmental design also contributes to proactivity. It is a strategy for effectively organising environmental issues. In this Unit, we will discuss the tools available for integrating environmental concerns in the process of designing industrial products, buildings and developmental planning. We will begin the Unit by introducing the concept and principles of environmental design (ED). We will then discuss ED for manufactured products and construction. We will also discuss ED in the context of developmental planning.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this Unit, you should be able to:
explain the basic principles, objectives and potential of environmental design (ED); discuss environmental design considerations in the context of manufactured products, construction and developmental planning.
9.1 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (ED): AN
EXPOSITION
Environmental design (ED) or designing for environment is a perspective in which environmental aspects of an existing or new product, process or facility, design/redesign are optimised systematically and continuously for minimal adverse impact on the environment. In other words, it helps in designing and developing environmentally benign products and processes that have the
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The genesis of many environmental problems is high population levels, rapid population growth and unequal population distribution. The natural systems are getting overloaded and are unable to provide resources to meet the basic minimum needs of the ever-growing population. The result is the vicious cycle of poverty, rapid population growth, environmental deterioration and more poverty. Contributing to this vicious cycle are the results of economic activities that were once perfectly acceptable and even desirable but are now considered unacceptable because of their impacts on the natural resource base. Till recently, humanity was concerned about the ill effects of development on the environment. But now, it is equally concerned about the ways in which environmental degradation can dampen or reverse economic development.
The WCED report of 1987, Our Common Future , emphasised that the size, density, movement and growth rate of population cannot be influenced, if population control efforts are being overwhelmed by adverse patterns of development. Since then, the concept of carrying capacity of ecosystem is being looked upon as a tool for enabling environmentally sound developmental planning. This is born out of the realisation that the preservation of ecosystems and of the productive potential of nature is a fundamental objective of all planning.
Against this backdrop, let us now discuss the key principles of ED below:
(i) The design of a project, process or product must incorporate environmental objectives, in addition to other objectives such as economic efficiency and practicality.
(ii) The core environmental objective is the overall sustainability of:
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the use of resources, including energy; the process used in the manufacturing of a product or constructing a project; the product or project in operation; the product or project at the end of its use or operation, i.e., the actions involved in discarding, recycling or dismantling the product or project.
(iii) While sustainability is the principal environmental concern, other environmental objectives that should be considered are:
the restoration and enhancement of landscapes; the dignity, comfort and safety of workers in workplaces; the restoration and enhancement of ecosystem; fostering of human creativity and art.
(iv) Environmental objectives that refer specifically to a project, process or product should be stated explicitly, to a level of detail equivalent to those of the other objectives. These objectives are to be agreed upon at the outset by administrators, sponsors and designers.
(v) Since the environment is multi-sectoral and multi- disciplinary, design for environmental objectives is inevitably a multi-discipline exercise and multi-disciplinary activity must be considered within the environmental design.
(vi) The design of a project, process or product should proceed from its initiation by the conscious definition and integration of environmental and other practical considerations. This
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improves waste management/pollution prevention systems; encourages good design and drives innovation; cuts costs; meets user needs/wants by exceeding current expectations for price, performance and quality; increases product marketability.
ED can also provide a means for establishing a long-term strategic vision of a company's future products and operations. In essence, as an enabling force, ED helps shape sustainable patterns of production and consumption. In this context, consider the following:
(i) Increased innovation: By incorporating ED into product design/development, companies gain a fresh perspective on established practices, resulting in new ideas and solutions (e.g., new product/service concepts, alternate production techniques, increased employee participation and greater creativity).
(ii) Greater ability to compete, add value and attract customers: There is a growing global demand for environmental quality in products and services. Incorporating ED into product design can help companies:
meet emerging market demands; differentiate their products in the marketplace; improve their image and win customer attention; attract investment.
(iii) Become more cost-effective: ED targets opportunities for cost-reduction at all stages of a product's life and ensures
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the greatest reduction in environmental effects/releases per dollar invested. This results in:
reduced production costs; increased product quality; elimination of compliance costs; increased return on environmental investments.
(iv) Reduce environmental impacts and liability: By decreasing a product's impact on the environment, ED helps companies:
ensure compliance with environmental regulations; reduce uncertainty with respect to future environmental requirements; improve access to insurance and financing; achieve better community relations; contribute to a better local, regional and global environment.
(v) Gain a syste ms perspective: ED, which focuses on a product's life-cycle, helps companies create corporate links between product design, supply chain management and sales/marketing, thereby providing:
an overall, systemic view of company operations; a mechanism for cross-functional teams to continuously improve products.
The three sample success stories listed below should attest to the benefits of ED:
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IBM Sweden designed glassware made from recycled cathode ray tubes (CRTs). The face of the CRT comprises two thirds of the weight of the glass and does not contain harmful lead. The result is that the majority of glass can be recycled into glassware. The other parts, containing toxic materials, can be recycled into CRTs at IBM Holland in the Netherlands. The results are cost-savings in recycled materials and greater awareness among marketing staff regarding the value of recycled materials (Inga Belmane. A Eco- innovation: cathode ray tube recycling at IBM Sweden. @ Journal of Sustainable Product Design, Issue 9, April 1999. Centre for Sustainable Product Design, Surrey, UK).
The above discussion clearly illustrates the advantages that result in adopting DFE in companies. Let us discuss the key concept of DFE in Subsection 9.1.3, i.e., external and internal drivers.
9.1.3 Motivation for ED
Motivation to implement ED can come from either or both of the following:
(i) Within the company itself, referred to as internal drives.
(ii) Within the immediate surroundings, referred to as external drives.
Let us now discuss both of these drivers.
Internal drivers
The internal driving forces in ED should consist of:
(i) Need for increased product quality: A high level of environmental quality will raise product quality in terms of
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functionality, reliability in operation, durability and reparability.
(ii) Image improvement: Communicating a product's environmental quality to users through an environmental seal of quality such as the Environmental Choice Label or a good report in consumer tests, can improve a company's image significantly.
(iii) Need to reduce costs: Companies can combine ED strategies with financial benefits by:
purchasing fewer materials for each of its products; using energy and auxiliary materials more efficiently during production; generating less waste and lowering disposal costs; disposing of hazardous waste.
(iv) Need to stimulate innovation: ED can lead to radical
changes at the product system level – the combination of product, market and technology. Such innovations can provide entry into new markets.
(v) Employee motivation: Employee morale, generally, increases when employees are empowered to help reduce the environmental impact of the company's products and processes. ED can also boost employee motivation by improving occupational health and safety.
(vi) Sense of responsibility: A growing awareness that business must play an important role in working towards sustainable development can provide a strong incentive for implementing ED.
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Requirements by some companies – generally large corporations – for environmental safeguarding declarations from suppliers. Some companies are systematically looking at their entire supply chain and imposing the new environmental standards or other measures of environmental performance. Boycotts or other actions by consumer organisations/environmental groups. For example, Green Peace successfully pressured industry to develop Green Freeze , an ecologically efficient refrigerant made of propane and butane that can replace environmentally harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Environmental requirements incorporated into consumer product testing. If a product fails to get a high score on these requirements, it will no longer qualify for the title of best buy or good choice, no matter what other excellent features it may possess. Good environmental ratings can increase market share. Increased implementation of "responsible care programs" in many industries, resulting in more companies with experience in cleaner production. In cases where intense competition exists for a particular product, companies with a good environmental profile can have an edge.
(iii) Trade/industrial organisations: These organisations often
encourage member companies to take action on environmental improvement and/or may impose penalties on companies that do not take the required action. As well, standardisation organisations are expanding all existing norms and standards to include environmental issues. The ISO 14000 series will become the international standard for certifying environmental management systems. It is
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expected that product-related aspects such as the obligation to collect and publish environmental data, will be incorporated in this standard.
(iv) Waste charges: Waste-processing charges such as land-fill and incineration costs are likely to increase, based on the principle of polluter pays. The prevention of waste and emissions, re-use and recycling will consequently become more economic.
(v) Environmental requirements for design awards. Several respected design competitions have now stipulated that contestants must provide specific environmental information on their products. One example is the German Industry Forum (IF) Design Award, affiliated with the Hannover Messe, which has a five-year plan to obtain environmental information on aspects such as packaging materials used, re-usability and warranties. Other international design competitions now pro-active with regard to the environment are as follows:
IDEA award in the United States. G-Mark award in Japan. Form Finlandia award by Nestle. Excellent Swedish Form by the Swedish Design Council. Brown Competition in Germany. ION award in the Netherlands.
9.1.4 ED and other environmental practices
ED is designed to help companies adopt environmental practices that will lead to a more sustainable and healthier society. It
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PP focuses on process and product improvements in order to avoid environmental problems before they occur. It is economically and environmentally superior to traditional end-of- pipe controls or clean-up strategies. ED dovetails with PP by focusing on products and processes involved specifically in manufacturing. While many ED strategies incorporate PP, it goes beyond PP practices by also examining product functionality and services. PP, during the manufacturing process, saves costs with regard to disposal, raw materials/consumables, ventilation equipment, maintenance-ducts, motors, internal balancing operations, pollution prevention equipment, health-workers protective equipment and training, regulatory compliance-approval from governments, etc.
A number of measures can be taken to prevent pollution during manufacturing. These include controlling pollution at source (e.g., substitute materials and change form of material to reduce emissions), enclosing the process (e.g., prevent release, accomplished with sealed vessels and piping), suppressing emissions (e.g., water sprays – dusty processes or liquids and gaseous – gas blanket) and changing the process entirely (e.g., degreasing from chlorine-based to high-pressure steam and soldering from traditional acid etching/fluxes/lead to different base materials, VOC-free fluxes, lead-free solder.)
Environmental management systems (EMS)
EMS such as ISO 14001 is an organisational approach to facilitate environmental evaluation and management. Except in cases of legal compliance, a EMS does not set or demand specific levels of performance in relation to product or process design. The core requirement for EMS is that organisations have a reasonable amount of information on the environmental effects of their products and processes and, in turn, seek continuous
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improvement. Pollution prevention (PP) is typically a part of EMS. It is estimated that INR (Indian Rupee) 1 spent on prevention saves INR10 otherwise spent at end-of-pipe or INR 100 expended on environmental remediation.
ED is complementary to EMS. It augments the organisational approach by including product-oriented environmental evaluations and improvements. Manufacturers using ED strategies take into account the environmental aspects of a product's use and end of life, and apply this information during its design, production and distribution.
The benefits of EMS include:
Cost savings from greater efficiency in processes, waste reduction, materials and energy use. Increased ability to meet customer/supplier requirements. Greater competitive advantage. Regulatory compliance and reduced liability. Improved community relations. Greater company appeal for investors. Increased employee pride and morale.
Occupational health and safety (OH&S)
The ED strategies provide support for programmes related to worker safety during production and worker health in terms of material selection and use. ED helps reduce the need for in-plant emission controls, worker contact with physical or chemical hazards and need for protective equipment.
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impacts of different means of transportation. The disposal of the product after its use may also be one of the reasons for serious soil and groundwater pollution (e.g., land filling) or air pollution (e.g., incineration). In addition, for many products, severe physical disturbances and pollution result from the extraction of raw materials. All of these environmental problems are largely decided (consciously or unconsciously) during the design of the product.
This points to the fact that the development of a new industrial product involves many decision-making situations where alternative solutions to a given design problem must be ranked, and priorities given, according to relevant criteria. Many different and very diverse criteria may be applied. Among the important demands on the new product may be:
Performance: The product should actually meet the need that
has been recognised.
Appearance: The company may wish its products to have a certain common appearance or the product may belong to a series of products with a certain common look.
Manufacturing costs: The manufacturing costs are essential for determining the later consumer price of the product.
Durability: The company must seek some compromise between the customer demand for high durability and its own wish to be able to market and sell new products frequently.
Safety: The product should be safe to use, thus reducing the
company's liability due to accidents.
Service: The product should be easy to service and maintain.
Ease of manufacture: The design of the product must consider
the constraints of the manufacturing facilities and the capabilities of the company.
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The environmental design of industrial product implies that the traditional product development criteria listed above must be extended to include criteria concerning the environmental impacts of the products throughout its entire life-cycle, and therefore, must be based on a life-cycle assessment of the product. Let us now discuss the importance of the stages of a product life-cycle in the design process in Subsection 9.2.1.
9.2.1 ED considerations in product life stages
The implications of the different life-cycle stages that need to be considered in the design process are many and varied. Consider the following:
Extraction of raw materials: Because the extraction of raw materials often takes place in scarcely populated regions remote from residential areas, there tends to be a slack concern about the environmental consequences. However, the impacts due to physical disturbances (e.g., destruction of habitats, extinction of species) and emissions (e.g., local pollution) may be severe for activities such as mining of minerals and extraction of mineral oil. Indeed, for many products, the most serious environmental impact may occur in the extraction of raw materials. These environmental effects should be considered as a consequence of the decisions made during the product design process when different materials are considered for the product. Manufacture: Product developers decide what materials and processes should be used for the manufacture of the new product. They influence the environmentally relevant emissions, physical disturbances and output of solid waste and wastewater that occur during production. Apart from the external environment, their choice of processes and materials
