ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN- I
Supraja Irukumati
KSSEM
Bangalore

What is an Enivironmental design?
• It is not a new word , it has been part of our ancient architecture if
we keenly observe engineering challenges were answered with a
delicate design intelligence in our ancient structures.
Environmental design means technologically feasible, economically
viable, an integrated approach ….etc many definitions arrive in to
picture.
An environmental design is a way to show simplicity at each and every
step of the process to achieve a sustainable and eco-friendly
results.
Eg: In 500BCE ancient greeks designed their houses to capture the
solar energy , by building south facing houses and this was followed
by romans too.
Source of info : wikipedea

IS ED ESSENTIAL ?
• Necessity of ED is a must to protect our environment and
securing our natural resources to our future generations.
• ED does’nt mean that we can redesign the product and
processes, again which is an expensive job . ED and it’s
principles must be applied at the initial stages only.
• ED focus is not only on products and processes but also
utilitarian oriented.
• Eg. Best examples are some of the rail systems which
covers a number of counties , results in a good control of
traffic and fuel consumption. BART(Bay area rapid transit )
started with covering 4 counties from Sanfransisco ,
extended up to 9 counties with around 50 stations. The
design was feasible for extension.

Principles of ED
• Environmental degradation can dampen or reverse the
economic development. Thus we need some principles
in environmental design
• 1. Various objectives required in design are taken in to
account with respect to environmental design
principles , where economic efficiency and practicality
are the factors of environmental economics.
• 2.The core environmental objective is overall
sustainability which includes use of resources , various
stages of production. The end to end results include
recycling, Discarding , waste management etc.

• 3. Sustainability is the main focus of ED , the other objectives are
restoration and enhancement of landscapes.
• 4.Environmental objectives differ from project to project , so it
should be stated explicitly in detail with respect to the principle
objectives which needs acceptance from administrators, sponsors
and designers.
• 5. Environment consists many sectors and it is multi-disciplinary.
Thus the objectives of ED is also a multi-disciplinary exercise.
• 6. ED need to be designed with a more conscious definition, where
integrated approach is possible.
• Eg: APPLE had given a detailed report .the following link contains
it
• http://www.apple.com/in/environment/

Benefits of ED
1.ED provides more business, by promising a healthy environment with your
design. Use of ED can create a unique , beautiful appearance too.
2. The basic concepts of ED in any design should be able to
- Reduce environmental impact of product during the process
- Optimize the usage of raw materials and energy
- Mange waste and prevent pollution by gradually improving the conditions
- Cut costs , a economically viable design
- Meet the consumers need by reaching their expectations in terms of
reasonable price, steady performance and quality of the product.
- Increase the market demand for that particular product.

Benefits of ED
• Benefits of ED cannot be restricted to a
particular number, there are many
• Eg: environmental benefits of a life cycle
design of concrete bridges. The following link
contains the information.
• http://www.nrc-
cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc49675/nrcc4
9675.pdf

Motivation for ED
• Motivation of ED can be implemented in either or both
the ways of the following
- Internal drives ( with in the company)
- External drives ( with in the immediate surroundings)
Internal Driving forces are :
- Need for increased product quality
- Image improvement
- Need to reduce costs
- Need to stimulate innovation
- Employee motivation
- Sense of responsibility

Motivation for ED
• External Driving forces are:
- Government policies
- Market demand /competiton
- Trade/industrial organizations
- Waste charges
- Environmental requirements for design awards

Motivation for ED
Conferences on environmental impact can bring much
awareness and motivate. In jan 2011 national conference
on green design was held at NEW DELHI. Link to the details.
http://www.grihaindia.org/events/ncgd/overview.php
Environmental design research association had given great
places award for SOAK explains mumbai in an estuary. Link
gives detailed info.
http://www.edra.org/awards-mainmenu-31/great-places-
awards-mainmenu-187/486-2010-great-places-award-
winners-announced#SOAK
Like the above there are many examples which will allow
more invention in ED by motivating.

ED and environmental practices
• Sustainable development is the main consideration during
economic decission making. The present trend of ED and
sustainable development plays a vital role in handling
situations because of more awareness compared to
previous two decades.
• Government and private organizations, individuals are part
of the ED and sustainable development.
• Industry ecology is one of the field with more innovations
which is leading to achieve a sustainable industrial
production and international economy has been part of the
process.
• Environmental practices and ED are the main factors in
preventing pollution.

ED and environmental practices
• By handling the processes carefully at each every step of the
production , recycling ,waste management is possible to prevent
pollution.
• Securing natural resources and protecting tourism places is possible
by introducing the ED and sustainable development. The following
case study will give a basic idea.
• http://ecosynapsis.net/RANPAold/Contenido/MainPages/preAmac/
articulosPDF/sustainable_tourism_in_pa_guidelines.pdf
• The following link too provides in handling chemical and gaseous
wastes , union carbide’s gas leakage in Bhopal is taken as one of the
major disasters in the world.
• http://ecosynapsis.net/RANPAold/Contenido/MainPages/preAmac/
articulosPDF/sustainable_tourism_in_pa_guidelines.pdf

Occupational health and safety
• It is a cross disciplinary area linked with safety
at the work place.
• Legal occupational requirements should be
included with a serious law so that
organizations will adhere to the moral
responsibilities.
• ED can be helpful in this field with many
strategies.

ED for manufactured products
• Manufacturing a product should promise that it has a life cycle in
production which reduces environmental impact and economically
feasible.
• Philips and Wipro with their energy saving methods and products
are gradually heading to wards a great success.
• As Our book mentions Electrolux is a very good example .
• The various key factors which should be included in the ED and
production are performance, appearance, manufacturing costs,
durability, safety, service, ease of manufacture.
• Eureka forbes has their own institute of environment, which is a
non-profit body is handling their products with a great care.
• http://www.eurekaforbes.com/aboutus/aboutUs-institute-
environment.aspx

ED considerations in product life
stages
• ED considerations and stages of life cycle
varies from product to product, in general the
following can be considered as implications
- Extraction of raw materials
- Manufacture
- Distribution and transportation
- Use and maintenance
- Disposal

ED tools
• Design for sustainability which requires ED tools to help the
designers or scientists to insert the environmental
requirements to complete the design.
• Any eco-design needs to promise a lifecycle assessment
and sustainability of the product.
• ED follows various strategies like
- Product life extension , reliability and durability
- Extending the process by recycling
- Reduced use of materials
- switching from non-renewable to renewable resources
- Energy efficiency
- Pollution prevention

Environmental cycle assessment(ECA)
• This is the first comprehensive guide to green
design, economic input-output life cycle
assessment.
• LCA is a technique in estimating and accessing all
of the environmental impacts associated with a
production process .
• LCA is a time consuming process and huge data is
required .
• The data gathering stage known as life cycle
inventory(LCI) often gives a promise on
improvement on its own.

ECO - labelling
• ECO labelling is broadly classified as
- Type1
- Type2
- Type3
An eco label is an approved label for green products. An
eco label provides a authoritative guidance to the
consumers to choose a product for environmental
reasons and at the same time an encouragement for
the product which is eco-friendly.

Eco labels

THANK YOU