Topic 2: Resource management and sustainable production

2.1 Resources and reserves

NOD

• Innovative solutions are needed as non-renewable resources are depleted in order to satisfy human needs for food, energy and raw materials.

• For the modern designer, the development of sustainable and renewable resources is a challenge.

RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES

Renewable 
Energy resources which can be replenished. They are more eco-friendly and do not pollute the environment.

• Wind - Using the wind to turn wind turbines generating electricity.

It may look ugly and are expensive to set up. They only work if there is wind.

• Solar - Using the sun light captured by solar panels and converting it into electrical energy.

Only works if there is sun. Expensive.

• Tidal - Using the energy of tides.

Energy has to be carried a long way. Expensive.

• Geothermal - Using heat from the Earth.

Extremely expensive to set up. Can only be set up in specific locations.

• Hydro-power - Stored water in reservoirs and dams produce electrical energy as it spins a turbine.

Reservoirs and dams are needed.

• Biomass - Waste and renewable materials are turned into electrical energy.

Non-Renewable
Energy resources which cannot be replenished in a lifetime.

• Oil - Formed from the remains of dead organisms and is found underground in reservoirs.
• Natural Gas - Decayed matter which has turned into gases such as methane.
• Coal - Black sedimentary rock that is formed over millions of years as heat and pressure turns plant remains into coal.

Non-renewable resources are not sustainable and are scarce, therefore there is not enough to satisfy all human needs. Burning oil, natural gas and coal also releases a lot of carbon dioxide which is a green house gas that contributes to global warming.

Since they are scarce, the price of these resources will only increase.

RESERVES

A mineral resource is a concentration of organic materials that can be extracted and deemed economical.

An inferred resource is a resource with estimates based on limited sampling as to what grade, mineral content and tonnage it is.

An indicated resource is a resource that the grade, mineral content and such has been sampled and estimated with more confidence.

A measured resource is a resource that has an estimate that has been approved by an expert.

Mineral reserves are resources which have been deemed economically valuable for extraction.

There are two kinds of reserves - probable and proven.

Probable reserves can be mined and are economically valuable but there is less confidence as to quality and can possibly be a loss

Proven reserves are reserves that have been proven to be economically valuable and there is confidence at the time of report.

RENEWABILITY
The ability a resource has of being replenished.

2.2 Waste mitigation strategies

NOD

• There are large amounts of waste in landfills due to the plentiful resources during the industrial age creating a society that easily discards things.

• Sustainability has become a more important factor in design due to the depletion of resources.

• Reuse - Using the product again in the same context or in a different context
• Recycle - Turning the materials from used products into new products.
• Repair - Fixing or rebuilding a part of an existing structure.
• Recondition - Rebuilding a product to it returns to its original, 'new' condition.
• Re-engineer - Restructuring a company or a section of its operations.

POLLUTION/WASTE

Discarding products results in large amounts of wastes in landfills. Recycling or re-using products would be a better option where possible as the creation of new products would also cause pollution contributing to global warming.

WASTE REDUCTION and DESIGNING OUT WASTE

Designing to use waste which can be recycled to be re-used by using waste as new products. This can reduce the amount of waste we have.

Designing to use less materials during production and manufacturing would also help to reduce waste as well as using less energy to reduce the impact on the environment.

DEMATERIALIZATION

Using less materials to produce the same level of functionality. (Doing more with less.)

This can be done by creating products of smaller size, creating a lighter product or giving a product multiple functions.

We can now also turn paper products digital - for example, eBooks, electronic magazines and more.

PRODUCT RECOVERY STRATEGIES

• Design for Disassembly - Products which have parts that have been design for easy disassemble and can be easily re-used or recycled. It aims to maximize economic value and minimize environmental impacts.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

2.3 Energy utilization, storage and distribution
EMBODIED ENERGY
The sum of energy required to produce any goods or services.

2.4 Clean technology

2.5 Green Design

NOD:

• Redesigning certain parts of something to make it more environmentally friendly.

• The product can be redeveloped when there is new technology.

Designers will focus on a few environmental objectives when designing or re-designing a product for green design.

DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURING (DfM)
Designers will design so that manufacturing capabilities are maximized. There are many constraints to this as this type of design as it limits the design brief.

DfM can be done by:

• Designing multi-functional components
• Decreasing the number of components
• Minimizing handling
• Use of sub-assemblies

Design for materials - Product is designed considering the availability of materials and use of materials during manufacturing process.

Design for process - Product is designed for a specific manufacturing process and can affect the choice of material or the overall design.

Design for assembly - Product is designed considering the different stages of assembly from components to sub-assemblies focusing on creating ease and efficiency in manufacturing.

DESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENT (DfE)
The designer can reduce the environmental impact of a product during its design stage. This is done by careful consideration of the product in terms of use and disposal of the product and how this affects the environment.

2.6 Eco-design

Considering the whole life cycle of the product during the design stage.

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS - Pre-production, production, distribution, utilization and disposal
A life cycle analysis usually considers the following:

• Water
• Soil pollution and degrading
• Air contamination
• Noise 
• Energy consumption
• Consumption of natural resources
• Pollution
• Effects on eco-system

These factors are considered during the various different stages of a product's life cycle. A life cycle analysis is conducted on products with high impact on the environment and allows designers to consider various ways to reduce this as they are responsible for the product during the pre-production and production stages.