Design Sustainabil ity & Nicola Morelli 2. Semester Master ID
Jun 19, 2015
DesignSustainability&
Nicola Morelli2. Semester Master ID
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 2
• The limits of growth• Growth and development• The question of
sustainability• Strategies for reduction• A lookout to the future• Socially and
environmentally sustainable scenarios
Summary
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DesignSustainabilityThe limits of growthThe speed of growth
DesignSustainability
Speed of the growth
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
Exponential Growth
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
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Exponential Growth exercise
Suppose you own a pond on which a water lily is growing. The lily plant doubles in size each day. If the plant were
allowed to grow unchecked, it would completely cover the
pond in 30 days, chocking off the other forms of life in the
water. For a long time the lily plant seems small, so you
decide not to worry about it until it covers half of the pond.
On what day it will be?
DesignSustainability
Doubling Times
Growth rate (% p.y) Doubling time (Years)
0.1 700
0.5 140
1 70
2 35
3 23
4 18
5 14
7 10
10 7
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
Nigeria’s Population with continued exponential growth
Year Population (millions)
1990 118
2014 236
2038 472
2062 944
2086 1888
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
World demographic transitions
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
industrialized and developing countries
Sweden
England and Wales
Japan
Taiwan
Egypt
Mexico
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
The growth will continue…
Source: D.H.Meadows, D.L.Meadows, J. Randers: BEYOND THE LIMITS, Global Collapse or a Sustainable Future
DesignSustainability
Food production in world regions
South Americ
a
Africa
North Americ
a
East Asia
Middle East
Western
Europe
The total production of food is increased, though, in the poorest countries, the per capita production is not changed, as the population
increased with the same speed
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The discovery of limits
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• Quantity of withdrawal (How many resources are we using?)
• Quality of withdrawal (renewable or not renewable?)
• Speed of Withdrawal (Time of withdrawal compared with time of
• natural renovation of resources)
Limits
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Growth VS Development
• Growth• Quantitative
economic growth Growth of economic resources spent for buying products and services
• measured with GNP
• Development• Qualitative
improvement of economic, social and cultural conditions
• Gross National Happiness (GNH)???
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DesignSustainability
For a sustainable development
DesignSustainability
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.Gro Harlem Brundtland, (1987) Our
Common Future
DesignSustainability
Germany Developing countries
Energy consumption (tj) 158 22 (Egypt)
Greenhouse gases (t) 13700 1300 (Egypt)
Ozone-depleting cfcs (kg) 450 16 (Philippines)
Roads (km) 8 0.7 (Egypt)
Goods transport (t/km) 4391000 776000 (Egypt)
Cars 9128000 904,000 (Egypt)
Passenger cars 443 6 (Egypt)
Aluminium combustion (kg) 28 2 (Argentina)
Cement combustion (t) 413 56 (Egypt)
Steel combustion (t) 655 5 (Egypt)
Household rubbish (t) 400 120 (Average)
Other waste (t) 187 2 (Average)
Germany Developing countries
Energy consumption (tj) 158 22 (Egypt)
Greenhouse gases (t) 13700 1300 (Egypt)
Ozone-depleting cfcs (kg) 450 16 (Philippines)
Roads (km) 8 0.7 (Egypt)
Goods transport (t/km) 4391000 776000 (Egypt)
Cars 9128000 904,000 (Egypt)
Passenger cars 443 6 (Egypt)
Aluminium combustion (kg) 28 2 (Argentina)
Cement combustion (t) 413 56 (Egypt)
Steel combustion (t) 655 5 (Egypt)
Household rubbish (t) 400 120 (Average)
Other waste (t) 187 2 (Average)
Unbalance
DesignSustainability
CO2 emission
Marque: AUDI
Range: A4
Fuel: PETROL
Transmission: MANUAL
Doorplan: 4 SAL
Trim: QUATTRO
Model Introduction Date:
2001-01
Engine (cc): 2976
CO2 Level (g/km): 252
Marque: FORD
Range: FOCUS
Fuel: DIESEL
Transmission: MANUAL
Doorplan: 4 SAL
Trim: GHIA TDDI
Model Introduction Date:
2001-02
Engine (cc): 1753
CO2 Level (g/km): 144
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Different impact of energy use
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Ecological unbalance
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• Developed countries (20% of the population of this planet) are using 80% of the available resources
Who should start?
• Developed countries are exporting a development model (ie a cultural, social and economic model) to developing countries
• Developed countries must find new systemic solutions that are based on a radical reduction in resource use
Who should start?
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…OK, OKwe should start, but how
much should we reduce our resource consumption?
Who should start?
DesignSustainability
I = M x P x Wwhere
I = Environmental ImpactP = population
W = Average WealthM = Metabolism
(Quantity of resources per unit of services)
How much should we reduce?
DesignSustainability
If (in 50 Years)
ECO-EFFICIENCY (E) = 1/M = 10 =90%
I = 0.5 P = 2 W = 2.5
then0.5 = 2 x 2.5 x M
M = 1/10
How much should we reduce?
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Variations of the model
2.5
2.5
Low
High
Productivity Growth
% per year
2.0 North
3.5 South
2.5 North
5.5 South
2.5 North
7.5 South
2.5 North
8.0 South
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DesignSustainabilityAre we thinking RADICALLY
enough?
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New solution for new lifestyles
Design of new products and services which respond to the same needs of the existing products with innovative ideas and with a lower environmental impact
Ecoredesign of existing products (Process optimisation, efficiency improvements, reduction of resource consumption, recyclability)
Is it radical enough????
Incr
em
enta
lR
adic
al
DesignSustainability
Strategies for resource reduction
Resources from the
planet
Biosphere
Technosphere
Sociosphere
Waste
DesignSustainabilityResources
from the planet
Biosphere
Technosphere
Waste
Optimizing the system by reusing resources
Sociosphere
Strategies for resource reduction
DesignSustainabilityResources
from the planet
Biosphere
Technosphere
Sociosphere
Waste
Dematerialisation
Strategies for resource reduction
DesignSustainability
Row materials
Production
Utilization Waste
Re-use
Repair
RebuildRecycle
Optimising the system by reusing resources
DesignSustainability
Optimising the system by reusing resources
Product-life extension of goods
(Re-use)Goods that need few resources for maintenance or operation (Furniture, household effects, bicycles)Goods that require resources to operate, when new goods do not improve resource efficiency
Optimising the system by reusing resources
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0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
Washing machines Refrigerators
Energy production during the life cycle
Pro
du
cti
on
Pro
du
cti
on
Use U
se
DesignSustainability
Innovation and efficiency
Appliance Bought 1980
kWh pa
Bought 1992kWh pa
Annual rate of change, 1980-1992 (% pa)
Refrigerator - single door 650 536 -1.6
- 2 dr cyclic defrost 1100 826 -2.4
- 2 dr frost free 1300 1097 -1.4
Freezer 680 664 -0.2
Dishwasher 610 575 -0.5
Clothes washer 1700 1560 -0.8
Airconditioner - reverse cycle 800 700 -1.1
- cooling only 570 460 -1.2
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Durability and innovation
Product life extension
may not save resources if
new products are
introduced which use
less resources in the use
phase
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Product-life extension of goods
(Re-use)
Optimising the system by reusing resources
Product-life extension of components
(Repair and rebuild)
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Product-life extension of goods
(Re-use)
Optimising the system by reusing resources
Product-life extension of components
(Repair and rebuild)
Remarketing of new products from waste
(Recycle)
DesignSustainabilityResources
from the planet
Biosphere
Technosphere
Sociosphere
Waste
Dematerialisation of the system
DesignSustainabilityResources
from the planet
Biosphere
Technosphere
Sociosphere
Waste
Dematerialisation
Strategies for resource reduction
DesignSustainability
Dematerialisation
DesignSustainability
Dematerialisation
Considering the total material input an appropriate measure of the potential disturbance of our host system "the Earth" the reduction of material flows is regarded a necessary (although not in all cases sufficient) means of reducing the pressure of humankind on the global environment in a directionally-safe manner.
(Wuppertal Institute, Sustainable Europe Project, http://www.wupperinst.org/Projekte/SuE/HTMLtexts/index.html)
Reduction of material flows in the economic system
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• Extending life cycles of goods
Strategies for dematerialisation
Miele updates the software system of washing machines when new washing programs or detergents will be available
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• Long Life goods
Strategies for dematerialisation
• Focus on utilisation
Sharing goods
Sharing
•Cars
•Washing machines
•Offices and office equipment
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• Long Life goods
Strategies for dematerialisation
• Focus on utilisation
Sharing goods
Providing services instead of products
•Xerox provides photocopy services, rather than photocopiers
•Interface provides floor covering services rather than carpets
•Shindler provides vertical transportation services rather than elevators
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• Long Life goods
• Focus on utilisation
Sharing goods
Providing services instead of products
Selling results instead of products
Strategies for dematerialisation
DesignSustainability
Ownership VS utilisation
DesignSustainabilityQUESTIONS?
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DesignSustainability
Choosing the future
DesignSustainability
Future
Present Future
Future
The future and the present: Backcasting
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Present
Sustainable Futures
Technical Horizon
Socio
-cultu
ral H
orizo
n
From Present to Sustainable Future(s)
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From Present to Possible Future(s)
Present
Sustainable Futures
Technical Horizon
Socio
-cultu
ral H
orizo
n
Technological evolution:
• More efficient products• New materials?• New processes
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From Present to Possible Future(s)
Present
Sustainable Futures
Technical Horizon
Socio
-cultu
ral H
orizo
n
Social/cultural Acceptance:
• Shifting to services?• New lifestyles• Social sustainability
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• Technological alternatives:Improve efficiency in the technosphere–reduce emissions, –new fuels, –new materials, –use of renewable energy, –distributed systems
Alternatives to the gas light
Nicola Morelli Design & Sustainability 61Component Product Production system
Consumption
Incr
em
enta
lR
adic
al
New materialsImproved efficiency
Modular systems
Product redesign
New product families
New distribution systems
Scenarios for new lifestyles
Social sustainability
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• Social alternativeChange lifestyles–Reuse–Sharing–Activation of local resources–Social networking–Activation/participation
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• The complex dynamic of change may generate promising cases
• Such cases may generate new patterns of developments, bringing about new products and services
• Environmental profiles on those cases are not always possible
Enabling Solutions
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• changes in the way individuals or communities act to obtain results (i.e. to solve a problem or to generate new opportunities).
• driven by behavioural changes (rather than by technology or market changes),
• typically emerge from bottom-up processes (more than from top-down ones).
• If the way to get a result is totally new (or if it is the result that is totally new), we may refer to it as a radical social innovation
Social Innovation
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• Relieving logic: companies do something that was previously done by the user; i.e. users is relieved from his/her responsibility, s/he has to work less
• Enabling logic: companies provide users with tools (product/services) to find their own solution. Users must use their own (sometimes residual) skills to find their desired solutions.
Relieving and enabling logics
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• In the past century, industrial societies have been dominated by dis-abling trends. I.e. towards the dis-involvement of individuals with regards to their personal capabilities to solve their problems, to use their skills, energy and time to get the needed or wanted results
“No care service society”
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• cases of social innovations that enable individuals or communities to achieve a result using at best their skills and abilities.
• If these initiatives have a good probability to spread and to be developed using an “industrial approach” (i.e. in a more efficient, effective and replicable way) they may be considered as promising initiatives.
Enabling Initiatives
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Based on:• Optimisation of resources• Economy of scale• Replication of solutions in
different contexts• Division of labour• Codification of knowledge
Industrial Approach
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• systems of products, services and organizational tools that enable individuals or communities to achieve a result using at best their skills and abilities.
• If these products, services and organizational tools are specifically designed to increase the enabling potential, the production efficiency and the reproducibility in other contexts of the resulting systems, these systems may be defined as advanced enabling solutions
Enabling Solutions
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• User-oriented solutions, when they enable an end user to fulfil his/her own need
• Community-oriented solutions, when they enable a community building process
• Micro-enterprise-oriented solutions, when they enable a subject to develop his/her own entrepreneurship and create some innovative forms of micro-enterprises.
Enabling solutions
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Examples
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1. how can I, as designer, contribute with my professional skills to this question?
2. who would pay me for this?3. how do we identify those who
would like to promote similar projects (and therefore pay a designer for developing them)
4. how does the need for a design activity emerges, if the initiative usually starts from an institution of a management board, which is usually unfamiliar with Designers?
Some questions about ourselves
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Life 2.0 the platform
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1. What is there for designers?– Specify the functionalities?– Design the infrastructures (booking
system, trust system)?– Design the rules (Who is doing
what? Capability? Resource use and coordination?)
2. Who would pay for the service?3. How can we alert those who
would pay for designers to develop this initiative?
4. How would we demonstrate that there is a need for designers?
Back to the questions
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1. What is there for designers?– Specify the functionalities?– Design the infrastructures (booking system,
trust system)?– Design the rules (Who is doing what?
Capability? Resource use and coordination?)
2. Who would pay for the service?– Could the service, in any form, be profitable for
anyone (healthcare institutions, public kitchen, restaurant)
3. How can we alert those who would pay for designers to develop this initiative?
4. How would we demonstrate that there is a need for designers?
Back to the questions
DesignSustainabilityQUESTIONS?
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CASES
Cyclo-Pouce
Senior club No profit book exchange
DesignSustainability
Example: the living room restaurant
• This initiative offers people who love to cook an opportunity to cook for a larger number of people then let’s say only their
wife or husband
DesignSustainability
Example: the problem
• Many older people in our neighborhoods are cut off from society. The people who started the solution want to make friends, be socially active and create a backup in case one of them would lose their job. They love to cook and want to offer a cheap alternative for people that go out for dinner
DesignSustainability
Solution description
• Reservation: email or a phone call,
• After a short chat to get acquainted with all the guests, dinner is served.
• Dinner: two appetizers, head course, dessert and unlimited drinks.
• Guests can choose the music in the background
• Guest must help with clearing the table between each dish.
• Hosts sit on the ends of the table; between the dishes they switch places to talk to everyone
• It depends on the cheerfulness how long the evening lasts
DesignSustainability
Revenue/cost model
• Around 10 people per visit. • Cost per participant: 15 euro
(for their own meal and that of the providers) and the unlimited drinks.
• The providers don’t make any profit on it, nor do they lose money on it.
• Providers shop in regular supermarkets
• No permit is needed for the restaurant since it is a small-scale setup.
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1. What is there for designers?2. Who would pay for the
service?3. How can we alert those who
would pay for designers to develop this initiative?
4. How would we demonstrate that there is a need for designers?
Back to the questions