Sustainable - 2005 Merriam-Webster - relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged Design - apple dictionary - purpose, planning or intention that exists, or is thought to exist, behind an action, thought or material object Jessica Ainsworth-Truong - a solution to a problem, which is created through a process by a professional through an understanding of criteria. Always shaped by the individuals involved - taste, priorities, constraints, etc. Resource - Susan Winchip - includes people, the environment, financial capital and technology Environment - World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) - the place where we all live Development - what we all do in attempting to improve our lot within that abode (our environment) Sustainable development - meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
We are all familiar with this one. It goes in order of importance to the earth step - reduce the amount of materials we use Plan with material sizes in mind, limit the number of items required (multi-function furn, etc), lessen the amount of energy required to light/heat/ac Reuse - don’t throw things out if it is unneccessary Donate to charity Reuse good FF&E if able. It is better to reupholster a chair than buy a new chair Recycle - when it is absolutely necessary to throw something out - recycle as much as possible Who need to be taken care of (all of us- worldwide) What needs to be taken care of, and What is going to be effected or effect development The Three P’s (similar to above, but easier to remember) The Three H’s - 1. Humanity -All people, regardless of race, creed, nation, etc. Humility - referring to respect for the environment Honesty - being ethical, truthful and transparent in economical activities People, place and money are all tied together G8 Developing nations - ability to pollute Pollution buyback or credits etc.
Always Look at the Moai tribe on easter island and the big heads and how that caused the downfall of their civilization Very remote island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Deforestation - to move the large stones, cut the strongest, largest trees More and more sculptures were made as competing tribal leaders wanted to show their prowess After all the trees were cut - the environment changed so agriculture was more difficult as root systems no longer protected the soil There was no shade There were no new boats for fishing - or even fleeing the island Population fell dramatically - so much so that the inhabitants didn’t remember why the statues existed Was a mystery until environmental archeology and pathology was studied Source - Collapse by David Diamond But - that was on a local scale, what happened on that island only affected those that inhabited the island - a small population of decision makers Possibly affected nearby islands with a small refuge population The environment as a global issue began with
Advances in technology - specifically that of the combustion engine increased Amount of goods produced - a consumer society (along with the wealth and free time that came with the lessening of labor and agriculture economy) Distance goods and people could travel - outsourcing Exploitation of earth bound materials - coal, oil, metals became more necessary and easier to dig up Everything was fired by fossil fuels - as it is today Which is just a more efficient use of fire, we really haven’t advanced since the cavemen The ability to move people, goods and pollution (through the air) affected the way we view our world and created many non-decision makers Colonization - outsourcing, oppressing Climate change - duh Wealth - the desire for more, the exotic and the rare Discuss how this image was taken during the day Interested - Thevictorianweb.org or www.historyhome.co.uk/peel or Inside the Victorian Home, by Judith Flanders
All of these are linked, we must think in a cycular fashion not linearly - the way we design - the floor plan informs elevation/section which brings up revisions in the plan which changes the roof, structure is in there somewhere etc I will briefly cover these topics as they relate to housing construction and housing lifecycle costs
Oil - 40% of worldwide energy, 40% of this is used in the US Coal - 26% worldwide, 23% used in USA Natural Gas - 21% worldwide, 25% in USA Nuclear - 6% worldwide, 8% USA It is proposed that the world energy consumption will double in the next 20 yrs. Part of it is developed countries desire for moe Part of it is developing countries like China and India wanting to achieve a lifestyle similar to that of Western countries Where is this energy going to come from? Can technology keep up with demand? Where can we reduce energy consuption in housing? Locate housing closer to pop. Centers and mass transit stations Reduce heat/cold load Use daylighting Efficient lamps Energy star appliances
The world’s population did not equall 1 billion until 1800 (until then, birth and death rates were stable) since then growth has been almost exponential (explain what that means) Because of better nutrition, sanitation and health care Taxes all of our resources
Air is considered an element of the ecosystem, air quality affects and is affected by the other components in the environment So air effects water, soil and living creatures Air pollution is caused by nature and humans Nature - forest fires, volcanoes - any spread of smoke/ash into the environment Humans - mostly chemical - carbon oxides (cars, deforestation) hydrocarbons (aerosols and refridgerants) nitrogen oxides (fertilizer), ozone, particulates (dust) and sulfer oxides Results of air pollution Environment - reduction in ozone layer - global warming Acid rain - discussed with water Human - diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, heart disease and asthma Cancer, birth defects and ultimately death
Often indoors have poorer air quality than the outdoors Closed building systems (heat and a/c) Chemicals released by building materials People’s habits - smoking, etc. Sometimes called Building-Related Illness Asthma, carbon monoxide poisoning or legionnaire’s disease May not appear until prolonged exposure - such as asthma in children whose parents smoked in the house - examplers me, Federal Reserve Bank These things can be attributed to the building itself Sick Building Syndrome Occurs when people who are working/living in the same building experience similar health problems Headaches, dizziness, nausea, depression or eye irritation When they leave the building they no longer have the symptoms Cannot be traced to any particular cause - Also includes humidity - mold, rotting surfaces, musty odors
Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is usable for consumption Includes drink, bathe, plumbing, agriculture, etc Much contributes to water pollution Air pollution chemicals mix with airborne water to create acid rain Chemical fertilizers and pesticides in ag production Solid waste (animal feces, heavy metals or plastics leaching in landfills) Hot water from factories - causes fish and water plant die offs We must conserve water when we can and do our best to treat it before we allow runoff into waterways
Degradation is caused by bad ag practices, deforestation and overgrazing Degradation is a reduction in the quality of the soil Main culprit is the perfect lawn (green field of the same species) Mono-culture- no biodiversity Depletes nutrients - must fertilize - add chemicals Spray with pesiticides to keep it nice - goes into the soil and water Solid waste - what goes into the landfill eventually (sometimes after millions of years) will turn into soil
Can technology keep up with demand? Are we going to run out of resources and run our planet into the ground before the technology is on line? Part of the message of this class and the design tools you will be using Low tech design techniques that have been used throughout the ages - before we had furnaces and ac and electric lamps Added bonus is understanding the earth around us and how we fit in to our environment How the sun changes thru the day/year Where seasonal winds come from What works in our MN climate Older techniques to creating finishes and traditional finishes that do not use modern pertro based chemicals Technology - Developing new ways to collect energy Modern finishes that have a smaller footprint Recycling
We can’t wait for someone else to take action We are all responsible for stewardship of the earth As designers, we are programmed to think about problems in a certain way we can prioritize issues, juggle more than 3 balls at once, analyze and re-analyze information, so the sustainable switch is an adjustment to our methodology, more than a new methodology For the first time an entire generation is actively pursuing the environment as a legitamite concern in everyday life - We need to make sustainable thinking/designing an instinct, not an applied bandaid. SWOT - strategic thinking is planning for the future Solutions for environmental, social and economic issues must be approached holistically Requires an analysis of a system’s …. a system can be a building, business, product,. Relationship, etc. We already have the tools.
World renowned author of such books as Nomadic Furniture and The Green Imparative: Ecology and Ethics in Design and Architecture He designs products through the lenses of human ecology, nature and social change Feels design is a huge influence on the lives of us all and how we conduct our lives “ In this age of mass production when everything must be planned and designed, design has become the most powerful tool with which man shapes his tools and environments (and, by extension, society and himself). This demands high social and moral responsibility from the designer. It also demands greater understanding of the people by those who practice design and more insight into the design process by the public.” Design for a safe future - taking care of earth Spirituality in design - what does this mean? objects with meaning don’t get thrown away, they get loved Removing unnecessary products from the market Relieving problems with excessive consumption - that feeling that you get in target when you leave with 6 items you didn’t even know you needed or wanted
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