The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments. Utilizing a sustainable design philosophy encourages decisions at each phase of the design process that will reduce negative impacts on the environment and the health of the occupants, without compromising the bottom line.
It is an integrated, holistic approach that encourages compromise and tradeoffs. Such an integrated approach positively impacts all phases of a building's life-cycle, including design, construction, operation and decommissioning.
For more information, contact Lance Davis lance. That guidance includes flowcharts to help simplify compliance with the energy efficiency laws, executive orders, and P sections applicable to GSA construction and modernization projects.
In , 19 federal agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing to "federal leadership in the design, construction, and operation of High-Performance Sustainable Buildings. Executive Orders, including 's E. New GSA buildings and major renovations must meet requirements including: reducing fossil-fuel-generated energy consumption by 65 percent by and by percent by managing water from 95th percentile rain events onsite and applying sustainable design principles to siting, design, and construction.
It directs federal agencies to manage their buildings, vehicles, and overall operations to optimize energy and environmental performance, reduce waste, and cut costs. It calls for agencies to cost-effectively meet goals including:. The result is a solid balance of cost, environmental, societal, and human benefits that help meet tenant agencies' mission objectives and functional needs.
GSA strives to seamlessly integrate sustainable design into project delivery. According to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the following questions should be asked to determine if a design is sustainable:. If you had a tiny house, where would you call home? The mobility and functional minimalism of tiny houses have sparked widespread cultural interest, leading to TV shows, DIY classes, and even entire communities. It helps compute wall R-values and U-factors, while also checking for wall moisture control.
The pipe laying project replaced 44, feet of 60 year old Polyvinyl chloride PVC was first created by a German chemist in , but never patented until Until , writes Robert Bailey, building construction largely involved three basic available materials: wood, stone, and clay earth.
The 20th Century, however, saw the advent of more materials than all past centuries Show More Sustainable Design Resources. Additionally, many governments that implement national design policies have provided positive steps toward applying sustainability. As designers, we have to understand our critical role in the sustainable world. Considering the critical problems that face our planet due to the irresponsible consumption of natural resources, designers play an important role in providing solutions to this problem and replacing obsolete products with innovative and sustainable ones that can ensure lower consumption of resources and less waste.
Looking at design through a holistic approach within the organization or company can unlock untapped capabilities to consider sustainable solutions that can replace old ones in existing products or envision new ones in the new product development NPD process. For example, the designers at LEGO contribute with the company team to create more planet-friendly materials for their toy bricks with the same properties and durability of the old bricks in order to maintain consumer satisfaction while upholding its planet promise.
Apple is another example of a company that depends on design and innovation to build an empathic relationship between it and its customers. Apple products have been improved over the years to become more sustainable. Electricity consumption during the sleep mode on the Apple iMac has improved 97 percent compared with the first iMac introduced in Additionally, the product design team has eliminated toxins from the whole design process. Through every part of the process, sustainability should be considered wisely.
In order for the designer to consider sustainable design throughout the process, the question becomes what are the stages of the design process and design development that you can consider changing in order to make a more sustainable product?
Below are some ideas on how to implement sustainability in design for each design area:. The form represents the visual shape of the product and is usually perceived to be the main element of the design.
The function and usability of the product contributes to its sustainability in an indirect way, as it helps consumers use the product more easily in less time and with less energy consumption. People do not want to keep hard-to-use products, so usable products can ensure less waste and throwaways.
0コメント