Improving Sustainable Development for Cities through Environmentally Friendly Design

Transcription

1 Improving Sustainable Development for Cities through Environmentally Friendly Design D. Deniz Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey ABSTRACT: Improving environmental awareness through sustainable design solutions is becoming increasingly important all over the world since communities are working to prevent pollution and over-consumption of natural resources. Conventional issues mostly considered in design have related to form, function and financial concerns. However, there is an urgent need to look beyond surface to develop environmentally friendly design solutions, products and processes for sustainable development of cities. Although environmental issues are complex and hard to deal with environmentally conscious regulations and design decisions force planners and designers to become more responsible for sustainable solutions considering the environmental potentials wisely for each particular city. In this respect, this paper discusses how to develop environmental design solutions for cities from the viewpoint of sustainable development with the examples from one of the biggest cities of Turkey, Izmir. Keywords: Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, Environmentally Friendly Design, Ecological Design, Renewable Energy. 1 INTRODUCTION Environmentally aware design mainly defined as it converts global environmental concerns into design details, products and processes for future cities and communities, since design decisions mainly determine levels of natural resource use and composition of wastes. In this respect, designer s responsibilities have become more difficult and important than before considering environmental issues. Environmentally aware designers are in a powerful position to create a better world by creating environmentally friendly processes and products as they aim to create a better design for the greener environment. Unfortunately, design has not been taught in the context of its social and ecological impact in past cases where many designers assume that their area of responsibility is limited. However, many environmental problems are caused by the pollution, which results from the design details, production, usage and finally disposal of products. Most products use natural resources and fossil fuel energies through the whole process that creates waste and many of them are irreplaceable. Since the technology develops rapidly, environmental problems increase every other day. On the other hand, new technologies often tend to be both less polluting and dangerous than what they replace. At that point, designers have to take more responsibility for sustainable solutions because of the crucial role they play for influencing environmental performance of products, which affects even the whole natural sources of the city.

2 The central position of designers provides a real opportunity to affect these changes. In this case, life cycle assessment is about minimizing environmental troubles through the whole lifecycle of products designed for sustainable city. The life cycle includes all activities that go into designing, making, using and disposing of it. It recognizes that all product life-cycle stages have environmental and economic impacts for the city and a product life cycle begins with the first phases of design and proceeds through the decision-making process, design, production, usage and disposal. 2 CHANGING DESIGN PROCESS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Traditional definition of good design includes criteria such as ease of use, attractive appearance and price range since environmental effects were ignored during the design stage for new products and processes in many past situations. However, environmentally conscious designers must crucially consider all of these complex issues, which surround designing for minimum environmental impacts. In this case, this will require a willingness to undertake thorough research before starting planning and design processes in order to understand environment issues. In addition to that, some technical understanding of the production process and of the properties of selected design details and materials will also be essential for the environmentally conscious designer (McCamy, 1972). Designers have crucial roles to play for creating more ecological products and processes by using greener energy sources that are crucial for the environment. This concept is vital for all designers who have a critical influence over every aspect of an environmental product s life, from manufacture to use and disposal. In this respect, applications of sustainable design involve a particular framework for considering environmental issues and criticizes traditional procedures for design and manufacturing (Gertsakis, 2001). However, change for any existing product and process is difficult. According to Mackenzie, discussions to global warming have focused on the need to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by extracting it from power stations, on the importance of developing alternatives to fossil fuels and on reducing the amount of energy produced in the first place, through improved energy conservation and efficiency (Mackenzie, 1991). The life cycle framework is a system for assessing full consequences of design including environmental, economic and social. Life cycle design evaluates total effects for all stages of the life cycle that have an impact on the environment. In this case, products throughout their use, products and processing equipment may be serviced to repair defects or maintain performance. After retirement, a product can be re-used or remanufactured or material and energy can also be recovered through recycling, composting etc. (Fiksel, 1996). Although, conventional marketing requires developing products that meet consumers needs at affordable prices, environmental marketing is more complex. Ottman emphasizes that it serves key objectives such as; developing products that balance consumers needs for quality, performance, affordable pricing, and convenience with environmental compatibility, that is, minimal impact on the environment (Ottman, 1997). Designing for sustainable markets does not ignore the traditional criteria for good design, but it demands that new considerations should also taken into account. Make product more efficient in its use of energy, water and materials, make product more cyclic, safe and renewable (Fiksel, 1993). In this case, designers should consider minimizing the use of energy and other resources required by a product to perform its function and they should also consider how waste energy and other resources could be recycled and utilised (Burall, 1996). Market pressure plays a major role in encouraging changes for industrial behavior and environment pressures do not just create problems and commercial risks, they also bring about major new market opportunities. Because, improved environmental performance provides an attractive new benefit in many sectors, and has led to significant competitive advantage for many companies (Zube and Moore, 1987). In this context, eco-labeling identifies overall environmental preference of a product within a specific product category based on life cycle considerations and also give consumers an opportunity to express their environmental and social values in their purchasing decisions (Lewis, Gertsakis, 2001).

3 Although, new products need to be designed in a sustainable way, existing designs also need to be revised. In this case, there are a lot of responsibilities that should be considered by designers. For instance, all designers should take a look at all their own activities and establish how they can limit environmental damage of the products. Environmental product development requires some fundamental changes in approach by designers because consciously or not, design of products and processes is the main determinant of environmental impact (Keoleian and Menerey, 1994). Design is the key point for making radical improvements in the environmental performance of products. The product life cycle is a sequence of transformations in materials and energy that includes whole process from extraction to recycling of disposed product materials. At that point, designing for the environment requires energy consumption design including the selection of materials and processes, which results in a reduction of the product s energy requirement when been manufactured or used. 3 DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS VIA SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TOOLS Sustainable communities mostly defined, as they should meet the needs of existing and future residents, which must be sensitive to the environment, and help to increase quality of life. In order to have a sustainable development these cities and built environments must be safe and well planned by offering equality of opportunity for all. These communities should also be offering visible, effective and community-friendly policing, design decisions and applications. Environmentally aware development requires providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment. In this case, sustainable communities should seek to minimize climate change, protect the environment, minimize waste and dispose of it, efficiently use natural resources by encouraging sustainable production and consumption. In addition, environmental awareness enable a lifestyle that minimizes negative environmental impact, create greener solutions for all. In that case, environmental issues should be considered carefully from the planning to the design stage of public spaces and related products, etc. Fig. 1. Components of Design for the Environment for Sustainable Development

4 Designers must understand the basic relationships among design features and the local environment. To develop products in a sustainable way, designers must evaluate which design solution is better from the environmental point of view. First of all, designers have to try to design sustainable product life cycle from the concept of design to the manufacturing process, energy consumption and finally use and disposal of the natural sources. As another crucial point, they should not ignore the environmental impacts of energy sources and energy efficiency issues. By considering these basic rules it is possible to make huge improvements by conserving energy in different ways such as; by developing policies which consider local natural resources as a source of energy; by designing processes & products with improved energy efficiency and also by developing design details to reduce energy loss in each phase. Fig. 2. Green Energy versus Fossil Fuels People have been concerned about environmental problems for many years, but levels of interest recently rising in many countries when increasing evidence emerged of the problems. In this case, environmental awareness become added value benefits for all. Individuals who feel concerned about environmental issues tend to want to try to do their bit to help address the problems. People finally aware of that they can make a contribution to minimizing damage with a small effort thus, radical changes in behavior and reductions in consumption will be essential. Fig. 3.a.b. Environmentally Friendly Design Solutions for Sustainable Development - City of Izmir ( (

5 As a very sunny city, Izmir started to develop design policies to benefit from solar energy. In this respect, there have been produced many successful examples such as; solar powered public transportation and sustainable design solutions like environment-friendly city furniture located in İzmir. Besides İzmir, the contribution which is made to national power supplies by renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind power is likely to increase in many countries by using green energy alternatives for production, distribution, usage and disposal stages; designing reuse or recycling to minimize transport impacts and performing a life cycle green energy through extraction, processing, transport, usage and disposal. Improving environmental awareness and producing eco-efficient products creates less waste, uses fewer raw materials, and saves renewable energy, too. These changes require making environmentally sensitive local policies and products as well. Ecological production systems should seek to provide the highest quality in sufficient quantities by protecting environment, minimizing pollution and promote public health. Consequently, designers should always look to see if the choice of energy source is inevitable or if a better and environmental alternative is available. Improving environmental awareness of consumers also help to develop environmentally aware solutions by encouraging designers and manufacturers as well. 4 CONCLUSION Today, environmental regulations force designers, environmental planners and local authorities to become more responsible for environment-friendly and sustainable solutions. This requires a new approach to design and decision-making process where traditionally issues considered in design have related only to function, appearance and financial concerns. As the decisions made by designers have a direct effect on the amount of consumed natural resources, energy and pollution derive from those products during its lifetime, it is important that designers are given the right information and tools to enable them to minimize the effect of their products and design decisions on the environment. At that point, the crucial question is whether designers are equipped to respond to the new demands which will arise from these changes, or not. Unfortunately, in most places, design has not been taught in the context of its social and ecological impact and many designers assume that their area of responsibility is limited to function and appearance. Many environmental problems are caused by the pollution that results from the production and use of products and services. Fig. 4. Designing Sustainable Solutions for All

6 Most products and services use natural resources, many of which are irreplaceable. The manufacturing process itself uses energy, creates waste, and may result in harmful by-products. Designers have a direct influence on the amount of damage that will occur at each stage in the process as they can design products that use energy efficiently and as little energy as possible. They should also explore opportunities to use energy from renewable resources instead of fossil fuels. These objectives also lead to reduce costs for manufacturers and environmentally aware consumers. Designers must demonstrate an ability to take on the complex and challenging issues, which surround designing for minimum environmental impact. Because designers can create the interface among consumers and technology underlying the surface of a manufactured product and who gives form to objects that not only offer function but also visual pleasure. Consciously or not, design of products and processes is the main determinant of environmental impact and design is the crucial point for making radical improvements in the environmental performance of products. Because, the relationship between design and ecology is so close and they are strictly connected to each other. Designing for the environment is not only a complex issue, but also a moral one. In this respect, designers have to work for better design solutions, which also encourage consumers for improving environmental awareness, now that better way can embrace environmental, ethical and social issues, too. 5 REFERENCES McCamy J.L The Quality of the Environment, The Free Press, NY, Collier Mac- Millan Limited, London Gertsakis, J Linking Innovation, Design and Sustainability. Mackenzie D Green Design, Design for the Environment. Laurence King Ltd. Fiksel J., Design for Environment, Creating Eco-efficient Products and Processes, McGraw-Hill. Ottman J.A.,1998. Green Marketing, Opportunity for Innovation, NTC Business Books. Fiksel, J Design for the Environment: An integrated systems approach. IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment, Virginia. Burall P., Product Development and the Environment, The Design Council, Gower Publishing Ltd. Zube H.E. & Moore G.T, Advances in Environment, Behavior and Design, Plenum Press NY. Lewis H., Gertsakis J Design + Environment A Global Guide to Designing Greener Goods, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Keoleian G.A, Menerey D., Product Life Cycle Assesment to Reduce Health Risks and Environmental Impacts, Noyes Publication, New Jersey USA.