Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is concerned with minimizing waste reducing consumption of energy and materials. It is the intention to cause little or no damage to the environment. This concept can be applied across all aspects of design such as designing buildings or products.  A sustainable design, regardless of the application, will seek to incorporate environmentally-preferable outcomes such as lower energy and water consumption. Also minimizing the impact on climate change is important thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions or mitigating them through carbon neutralizing activities. We all need to limit resource consumption through waste-free manufacturing which preference is given to renewable resources, and an emphasis on recycled materials. One should also reduce or eliminate waste by minimizing consumption, reusing when possible, and recycling when necessary. It is also vital to minimize the impact on the local ecosystem and look for ways to incorporate biomimicry principles where possible. Most of all, giving preference to non-toxic materials and those that will contribute to the health and well being of humanity. Last but not least, emphasize quality and durability over price.

I have researched how today’s energy is being consumed and how it relates to our environment. In 1988 the environmentalists have warned us that the global warming was arising so many industries and urban areas had to emit much less fumes in the air in order not to pollute the atmosphere. Since then climate has changed a lot, sea level is constantly rising, glaciers are melting and oxygen is deteriorating. So industries are relying more on renewable energy sources such as wind turbines designed sustainably although it has the disadvantage of sound pollution. Then there is solar energy and wave power as other means of generating power since oil, natural gas and coal are running out and they are polluting the environment.

Moreover, a step forward was also made in lighting where traditionally we used the candescent and fluorescent bulbs which emit more thermal energy rather than light energy. Oleg Losev was a scientist in the Soviet Union who worked with semi conductor junctions and discovered the p-n junctions which is the main working circuit of any LED bulb. In the 1920’s, in Russia the LED’s where invented giving the advantage of more light energy conversion since thermal energy was being wasted. Hence, they are more practical and conserve energy. Nowadays LEDS in the market have reduced in price and are more affordable to customers.

Looking back, these primary sources have been consumed unwisely. The atmosphere has been polluted long enough but now we are more conscious and educated of the consequences so we are working for a better sustainable development coming up with new technologies that are reliable, conserve energy and sustain the environment. 

Reference

Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (1999). Design of the 20th century. Ko¨ln: Taschen.

Circuits Today, 2011. Invention History Light Emitting Diode LED by Henry Round,Oleg Losev. [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.circuitstoday.com/invention-history-of-light-emitting-diode-led.> [Accessed 29 January 2015].

Michigan State University, 2015. Sustainability challenged as many renewable resources max out. [ONLINE] Available at: <http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2015/sustainability-challenged-as-many-renewable-resources-max-out/.> [Accessed 29 January 2015].