Sustainable design
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sustainable design is the art of designing physical objects to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. It ranges from the microcosm of designing small objects for everyday use, through to the macrocosm of designing buildings, cities, and the earth's physical surface.
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[edit] Examples of sustainable design
[edit] Accommodations
Green buildings conserve energy, water and resources with limited polluting of either indoor or outdoor environments. Similarly, autonomous buildings use available resources such as rainwater, solar power or wind turbines, in order to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and other resources. Often they can be constructed of recycled materials as well, reducing their total energy requirements for construction.
[edit] Agriculture
There are strenuous discussions - among others by the agricultural sector and authorities - if existing pesticide protocols and methods of soil conservation adequately protect topsoil and wildlife. Doubt has risen if these are sustainable, and if agrarian reforms would permit an efficient agriculture with fewer pesticides, therfore reducing the damage to the ecosystem.
[edit] Infrastructure
Urban and rural planning can benefit from including sustainability as a central criterion when laying out roads, streets, buildings and other components of the built environment. Many times, the natural configuration of the land has been ignored or discounted during the planning stages, potentially causing ecological damage such as the stagnation of streams, mudslides, soil erosion, flooding and pollution. Applying methods such as scientific modelling to planned building projects can draw attention to problems before construction begins, helping to minimise damage to the natural environment.
[edit] Domestic machinery
Automobiles and appliances can be designed for repair and disassembly (for recycling), and constructed from recyclable materials such as steel, aluminum and glass, and renewable materials, such as Zelfo, wood and plastics from natural feedstocks. Careful selection of materials and manufacturing processes can often create products comparable in price and performance to non-sustainable products. Even mild design efforts can greatly increase the sustainable content of manufactured items.
[edit] Disposable products
Detergents, newspapers and other disposable items can be designed to decompose, in the presence of air, water and common soil organisms. The current challenge in this area is to design such items in attractive colors, at costs as low as competing items. Since most such items end up in landfills, protected from air and water, the utility of such disposable products is debated.
[edit] Sustainable technologies
Sustainable technologies are technologies which use less energy, fewer limited resources, do not deplete natural resources, do not directly or indirectly pollute the environment, and can be reused or recycled at the end of their useful life. There is a significant overlap with appropriate technology, which emphasises the suitability of technology to the context, in particular considering the needs of people in developing countries. However, the most appropriate technology may not be the most sustainable one; and a sustainable technology may have high cost or maintenance requirements that make it unsuitable as an "appropriate technology," as that term is commonly used.
[edit] Encouraging sustainability
The use of sustainable technologies may be encouraged through means such as reducing the capacity of the electrical cable supplying a home (e.g. Crystal Waters Village in Australia). In some cases the electricity supplier charges a higher rate for the energy used when the capacity of the supply is increased (for example, in Indonesia[citation needed]).
[edit] Education
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of certificate and degree programs offered with a concentration in sustainable design. Boston Architectural College offers both a certificate in sustainable design, as well as a bachelor of design studies degree with a concentration in sustainable design. Additionally, the University of Texas main campus in Austin offers a masters degree in architecture with emphasis on sustainable design.<ref>University of Texas - sustainable design program</ref> With an increased focus on the importance of sustainable design globally, there is likely to be higher demand for professionals educated specifically in this discipline.
[edit] Terminology
In some countries the term sustainable design is known a Ecodesign, green design or environmental design. Ecodesign as meant by Victor Papanek, did include social design and social aspects. Over the past years the terms sustainable design and design for sustainability - besides other new terms - became more accepted globally, including the triple bottom line (people, planet and profit).
[edit] See also
[edit] Technology
[edit] Advocates and practitioners
- J. Baldwin
- Tom Bender
- Peter Calthorpe
- Buckminster Fuller
- William McDonough
- Sim Van der Ryn
- Ken Yeang
- Mark Hanson, PhD
[edit] Organizations
- Keyline Design
- O2 Global Network
- Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates
- Tricycle Inc.
- Worldchanging
[edit] External links
- Boston Architectural College
- ecoLogical Home Ideas Magazine for green home building/remodeling
- Information Sources on Green Building
- O2 global network on sustainable design
- Public Works and Government Services - Environmentally Responsible Construction and Renovation Handbook
- Sustainable urban design
- United States Green Buildings Council
- Worldchanging
[edit] References
<references/> Yan Ji and Stellios Plainiotis. Design for sustainability. China Architecture and Building Press, September 2006. ISBN 7-112-08390-7
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