Conservation of energy and resources

• Advantages of renewable energy:

  • The major advantage of renewable energy is that it is sustainable, and as such, it will never run out.
  • Renewable energy facilities generally require less maintenance than traditional generators.
  • Fuel derived from natural resources reduces operational costs.
  • Little or no waste, such as CO2 or other chemical pollutants, is produced, meaning minimal environmental impact. Renewables are considered clean energy.
  • Social and economic benefits – a renewable energy project can bring benefits through employment and the use of local services to an area.
• Disadvantages of renewable energy:

  • It can be difficult to generate the large quantities of electricity that are produced by traditional fossil fuel generators.
  • Renewable energy often relies on the weather; if the supply is unreliable or inconsistent, the energy production will also be unreliable. Eg. wind turbines need wind to turn the blades.
  • Renewable energy is currently more expensive than traditional fossil fuel or nuclear energy, primarily due to the large capital cost associated with new technologies
• Wind Turbines driven by blades that catch the wind.
• Hydro

  Dams are built to trap water. Stored water is released to turn turbines and generate power.
• Solar photovoltaic(solar PV)

  Photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s energy directly into electricity.
• Wave

  The energy produced by the constant movement (kinetic energy)of the waves. The wave movement forces air up a cylinder to turn the turbine and generate power.
• Tidal barrage

  Barrages are built across estuaries; as the tide comes in and goes out, the water movement turns turbines which generate power.
• Geothermal

  Natural heat from the Earth heats up water to produce steam. The steam spins a turbine and generates electricity
• Biomass

  Organic matter such as wood, dried vegetation and crop residues are burned to heat water and produce steam. The

  steam turns the generator to produce power.
• Energy and Material Conservation in Manufacturing:

  • Design Considerations:
  • Minimize waste material; reuse or recycle waste.
  • Example: Injection molding uses sprues that can be recycled into the process.
  • Use tessellation for sheet materials to reduce waste.
  • Apple's Environmental Efforts:
  • Uses hydro-electric smelted aluminum.
  • Reuses aluminum off-cuts in manufacturing.
• Energy and Material Conservation in Manufacturing

  • Machinery and Environmental Impact:
  • Injection moulding machines require mechanical, electrical, hydraulic systems, and water cooling.
  • Use lubricants and chemicals responsibly; follow hazardous waste disposal guidelines.
  • Water use can be costly, especially in water-scarce regions.
  • Smart's Environmental Measures:
  • Smartville factory recycles wastewater and has its own treatment plant.
  • Uses gas-fueled heat and power generation for 25% of its power needs.
  • Won the 'Trophée de l’Excellence Industrielle' in 2012.
• Energy and Material Conservation in Manufacturing:

  • Product Use and Energy Efficiency:
  • Manufacturers like Apple incorporate power-saving features in products.
  • Consumer awareness of energy use is crucial to maximize these benefits.
• Product Miles:

  • Definition: Total distance a product travels from production to consumer use.
  • Food Industry: Focus on locally sourced foods with labeling indicating food miles.
  • Typical Product Journey:

  1. Raw material to processing plant
  2. Processed material to manufacturing facility
  3. Manufacturing facility to distribution hub
  4. Distribution hub to retail outlet
  5. Retail outlet to user’s home
  6. Home to recycling center
• • Reducing Product Miles:
  • Deliver directly from manufacturing to retail, reducing CO2 emissions and costs.
  • Use electric trains instead of road transport.
  • Manufacture in the country of use to minimize shipping emissions.

  Example: UK imports two-thirds of its wood, but there's a push for locally sourced and processed wood to reduce product miles and allow consumers to trace the product journey from seed to store.
• Circular Economy:

  • Finite Resources: Current 'throw away' culture is unsustainable due to limited resources.
  • Linear vs. Circular Economy:
  • Linear Economy: Take, make, dispose; leads to landfill.
  • Circular Economy: Continuous cycle of reuse and remanufacture, avoiding waste and landfill.
  • Circular Economy Principles:
  • Maintain materials, products, and components at high effectiveness throughout their lifecycle.
  • Design for continuous reuse of biological and technical nutrients.
  • Use systems like product maintenance, refurbishment, remanufacture, and recycling.
• Circular Economy:

  • Manufacturer Methods:
  • Product Leasing: Common for IT hardware and tool hire.
  • Take-Back Programs: Example - Dyson recycles products at no cost to consumers.
  • Lifecycle Optimization: Consider impact on water, energy, and ecology; use renewable energy.
  • Types of Nutrients:
  • Biological Nutrients: Organic, non-toxic materials that compost safely (e.g., plant-based materials, biodegradable products).
  • Technical Nutrients: Man-made materials like polymers and alloys, designed for repeated use (e.g., cars, washing machines).
• Circular Economy Principles for Designers and Manufacturers:

  • Preserve and Enhance Natural Capital:
  • Control finite resources.
  • Use renewable or more efficient resources and energy.
  • Incorporate bio-systems (e.g., compostable elements for soil).
  • Optimize Resource Yields:
  • Design for refurbishment, disassembly, remanufacture, reuse, and recycling.
  • Maintain high quality and value in resources and components.
  • Include biological and technical nutrients.
• Circular Economy Principles for Designers and Manufacturers:

  • Foster System Effectiveness:
  • Reduce negative impacts on population-affecting factors (e.g., land use, food production, air/water quality).
  • Rethink design to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts.
  • Manage resources like forests and consider the ecological value of decomposing wood.
• Circular Economy Principles for Designers and Manufacturers:

  • Circular Economy Goals:
  • Promote greater resource productivity.
  • Reduce waste and avoid pollution by design.
  • Use two material flows:
  • Biological Nutrients: Safely re-enter the biosphere.
  • Technical Nutrients: Circulate at high quality without entering the biosphere.
  • Contrast with Linear Economy:
  • Circular: Restorative and regenerative by design.
  • Linear: Take, make, dispose model.
• Importance of a Circular Economy:

  • New Opportunities for Growth
  • Counter 'Take, Make, Dispose' Culture
  • Promote Greater Resource Productivity
  • Reduce Use of Finite Resources
  • Reduce Waste
  • Avoid Pollution
  • Enhance UK Economic Competitiveness
  • Reduce Environmental Impact of Product Manufacture