Topic 3 Green Design

Life Cycle Analysis

Life Cycle Analysis• Life cycle analysis provides a

framework within which clean production technologies and green design can be evaluated holistically for a specific product

Ecodesign Online Pilot from Institute of Engineering Design, Vienna

Key Stages in Life Cycle Analysis

• Pre-production• Production• Distribution including packaging• Utilization • Disposal

Life Cycle Analysis

Major Environmental Considerations

• Water• Soil pollution & degradation• Air contamination• Noise• Energy consumption• Consumption of natural resources• Pollution and effect on ecosystems

Environmental Considerations

Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix

Pre-productio

n

Production Distribution Utilization Disposal

Water

Soil pollution & degradatio

nAir

contamination

Noise

Energy consumptio

nConsumption of

natural resources

Pollution & effects on

ecosystems

Analysis of Environmental Impact for an Automobile

• Example of BMW recycling program research and development

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Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix for an Automobile

Pre-production

Production Distribution Utilization Disposal

Water

Soil pollution & degradation

Air contamination

Noise

Energy consumption

Consumption of natural

resources

Pollution & effects on

ecosystems

Analysis of Environmental Impact for Refrigerators

• Although the last decade witnessed dramatic progress in refrigerator efficiencies, inefficient, outdated refrigerators are still in operation, sometimes consuming more than twice as much electricity per year compared with modern, efficient models. Replacing old refrigerators before their designed lifetime could be a useful policy to conserve electric energy and greenhouse gas emissions. However, from a life cycle perspective, product replacement decisions also induce additional economic and environmental burdens associated with disposal of old models and production of new models.

• A analysis of optimal lifetimes of mid-sized refrigerator models in the US, using a life cycle optimization model based on dynamic programming. Model runs were conducted to find optimal lifetimes that minimize energy, global warming potential (GWP), and cost objectives over a time horizon between 1985 and 2020.

• The baseline results show that depending on model years, optimal lifetimes range 2–7 years for the energy objective, and 2–11 years for the GWP objective. On the other hand, an 18-year of lifetime minimizes the economic cost incurred during the time horizon. Model runs with a time horizon between 2004 and 2020 show that current owners should replace refrigerators that consume more than 1000 kWh/year of electricity (typical mid-sized 1994 models and older) as an efficient strategy from both cost and energy perspectives.

Analysis of Environmental Impact for Washing Machines

Stages in the LCA of a clothes washerThe analysis covered the following stages:• extraction of raw materials; harvesting of plant products• transport of raw materials and processing into

intermediate products• transport of materials and components to washer

manufacturer (including packaging)• manufacture of washer• transport and distribution of washer (including packaging)• operation of washer (including detergent and its

packaging, water and wastewater treatment)• transport and disposal of washer

Roles and Responsibilities• Designers set the tone for product features and

functions. Universities and professional design associations offer cutting-edge green design training programs

• Manufacturers contribute to the design process by determining what’s produceable, determining efficient manufacturing processes, and by working with designers on other product elements Manufacturers must buy in to the green design concept and commit to working within the manufacturing constraints on green-designed products

• Consumers create demand for green products. Many consumers must be educated about environmental attributes through product labeling and marketing, while others have let companies know they will only spend money on products that have been designed for the environment

Life Cycle Analysis• Example of a situation where life cycle

analysis identifies conflicts that have to be resolved through prioritization• Alternative fuel sources – increased barrel

cost of crude oil makes alternative greener fuel more attractive• Biofuels, ethanol from corn grain and biodiesel

from soybeans • Photovoltaic cells (solar technology), the

technology and materials used to create them, are being improved all the time, becoming more efficient and durable, therefore cost efficient

Life Cycle Analysis in Practice

• Life cycle analysis is not used for many products

• However, in the re-innovation of the design of a product or its manufacture, specific aspects may be changed after considering the design objectives for green products

• Thus the material selected may be changed to make them more environmentally friendly

Target Products for LCA• Life cycle analysis is targeted at

particular product categories with high environmental impact and in the global marketplace

• It is impossible for companies to argue that their products are being made uncompetitive

• Life cycle analysis also targets companies with resources to invest in R&D

Life Cycle Analysis in Practice

• For example• Wood from sustainable forests• The selection of less toxic varnish• A product may be distributed differently• Its packaging may be redesigned

• Examine McDonalds approach to LCA

In-restaurant recycling binsMcDonald’s Japan