C11 Awareness of sustainability issues and wider impact
Initial knowledge/skills rating *
September 2011
My knowledge of sustainably issues is poor. I know little beyond what is meant by renewable energy and that trees sourced from a sustainable forest is where the felling and planting is managed.
My knowledge of sustainably issues is poor. I know little beyond what is meant by renewable energy and that trees sourced from a sustainable forest is where the felling and planting is managed.
Plastic presentation
As part of our group plastics presentation we looked at recycling as well as sustainability issues and ethics.This was not my personal area of research and I would like to understand more. I would like to make a note and really come to terms with the meanings of recycling symbols.
31st October 2011
Recycling Metal
It is important to manage metal resources so that future generations may also use them. Recycling metal lowers the consumption of raw materials which reduces mining.
Sources of recycled metal:
Aluminium cans from soft drinks form the major source of recycled alumiinum.
Recycled cars form the major source of recycled steel and iron.
Process of recycling begins with collection either by depositing at collection centres or by collection by waste management companies. From here it is sorted, shredded, compacted and sold back to industry.
Sources of recycled metal:
Aluminium cans from soft drinks form the major source of recycled alumiinum.
Recycled cars form the major source of recycled steel and iron.
Process of recycling begins with collection either by depositing at collection centres or by collection by waste management companies. From here it is sorted, shredded, compacted and sold back to industry.
Recycled wood **
I started looking into the possibility of using recycled wood for my design and make project. I wanted to see if there was any where local that I could get some recycled wood. There was nothing in my home area but I did find the Brighton and Hove recycling project. The recycling yard is run by both staff and volunteers and is meant to be a non profit organisation. According to their web site the UK produces around 8million tonnes of wood waste each year. More than 80% ends up in landfill sites when it could be recycled. I think I will pay them a visit.
Shop Visit
I visited the Hove and Brighton recycling shop. They were certainly very helpful and gave us a good tour of the timber yard explaining what they do and what they stock. I had never considered before that a recycling yard would be looking for a renewable source of material themselves just like any other business. For this reason they mainly stock floorboards and scaffold planks.
One of the considerations that has to be made if you are going to work with recycled wood is that it will have warped and bowed and could have metal embedded in the surface and can even have broken nails inside that have healed over and can no longer be seen. For this reason they only use hand tool to produce their furniture because these are cheap to replace.
when I calculated the cost f using recycled wood for my project it actually worked out about twice the cost of new timber. I was not expecting that. That may not be a fair comparison as the recycled timber from the scaffold boards was about twice the thickness of the timber I am now thinking of using. When I compared the price of a new scaffold board for £11 pounds compared to the £70 I would pay for recycled I thought it rather killed the idea of making something from nothing.
One of the considerations that has to be made if you are going to work with recycled wood is that it will have warped and bowed and could have metal embedded in the surface and can even have broken nails inside that have healed over and can no longer be seen. For this reason they only use hand tool to produce their furniture because these are cheap to replace.
when I calculated the cost f using recycled wood for my project it actually worked out about twice the cost of new timber. I was not expecting that. That may not be a fair comparison as the recycled timber from the scaffold boards was about twice the thickness of the timber I am now thinking of using. When I compared the price of a new scaffold board for £11 pounds compared to the £70 I would pay for recycled I thought it rather killed the idea of making something from nothing.
Skips
I have contacted a friend whose husband is a carpenter. I thought they might be able to offer some advice. The email I had back suggested I keep a look out for wood in skips. Her son had made every piece of furniture in his bedroom from wood found in skips. Unfortunately the skip only appeared in our road with a big piece of wood in it the day I drove past with my new timber. Typical.
Recycling material
Wanting to incorporate recycled materials into my project I did try to recycle a glass bottle but unfortunately my kiln did not reach a high enough temperature to melt it down properly.
19th February 2012 **
Although over the past few months there have been times when sustainability been touched upon I still do not feel I have grasped this area. I am aware this topic is one students of today are being bought up with. It is important that I gain a good grasp of knowledge in this area. I must apply myself. Maybe it would pay me to talk to my old teaching colleagues to find out what the current topics are and those most relevant to this subject.
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Although over the past few months there have been times when sustainability been touched upon I still do not feel I have grasped this area. I am aware this topic is one students of today are being bought up with. It is important that I gain a good grasp of knowledge in this area. I must apply myself. Maybe it would pay me to talk to my old teaching colleagues to find out what the current topics are and those most relevant to this subject.
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I wanted to find myself some information on recycling symbols. I have taken this information from http://goo.gl/iwdu. I had hoped to find different sources and adapt my record but actually I could not find anything as good as this. With hind sight I should just have put a link to their web page but if they take it down the information would be lost and I would like to have this information for future reference.
PET or PETE
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Number 1 Plastics
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers
PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by manufacturers.
Number 1 Plastics
Found in: Soft drink, water and beer bottles; mouthwash bottles; peanut butter containers; salad dressing and vegetable oil containers; ovenable food trays.
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs.
Recycled into: Polar fleece, fiber, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, straps, (occasionally) new containers
PET plastic is the most common for single-use bottled beverages, because it is inexpensive, lightweight and easy to recycle. It poses low risk of leaching breakdown products. Recycling rates remain relatively low (around 20%), though the material is in high demand by manufacturers.
HDPE
Number 2 Plastics
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing
HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Found in: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
Recycling: Picked up through most curbside recycling programs, although some allow only those containers with necks.
Recycled into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing
HDPE is a versatile plastic with many uses, especially for packaging. It carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Number 3 Plastics
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Found in: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, shampoo bottles, cooking oil bottles, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, siding, windows, piping
Recycling: Rarely recycled; accepted by some plastic lumber makers.
Recycled into: Decks, paneling, mudflaps, roadway gutters, flooring, cables, speed bumps, mats
PVC is tough and weathers well, so it is commonly used for piping, siding and similar applications. PVC contains chlorine, so its manufacture can release highly dangerous dioxins. If you must cook with PVC, don't let the plastic touch food. Also never burn PVC, because it releases toxins.
LDPE
Number 4 Plastics
LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile
LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.
LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Found in: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet
Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
Recycled into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile
LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications. Historically it has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.
PP
Number 5 Plastics
PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays
Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
PP (polypropylene)
Found in: Some yogurt containers, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles
Recycling: Number 5 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets, trays
Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
PS
Number 6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers
Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.
PS (polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable plates and cups, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, aspirin bottles, compact disc cases
Recycling: Number 6 plastics can be recycled through some curbside programs.
Recycled into: Insulation, light switch plates, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers
Polystyrene can be made into rigid or foam products -- in the latter case it is popularly known as the trademark Styrofoam. Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material was long on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it, though it is gradually gaining traction.
Miscellaneous
Number 7 Plastics
Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products
A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.
Miscellaneous
Found in: Three- and five-gallon water bottles, 'bullet-proof' materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, certain food containers, nylon
Recycling: Number 7 plastics have traditionally not been recycled, though some curbside programs now take them.
Recycled into: Plastic lumber, custom-made products
A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into number 7. A few are even made from plants (polyactide) and are compostable. Polycarbonate is number 7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.
Net Zero Properties
I had never heard of the term net zero property before
Net zero properties
I came across this stunning property and wanted to know more. It carried the term 'net zero'. I have never heard that term before and wanted to know more. With a bit of research I learned a net zero property is one that makes at least as much energy as it uses in a year.
The Cannon Beach Residence was designed by Nathan Good Architects. It has been designed not only to be net zero energy but also using recycled and salvaged materials where ever possible. Wind-fallen trees were used for the timber-frame construction, while the cherry wood used in the kitchen fixtures came from certified sustainable sources.
The design of the building incorporated large south facing windows allowing lots of natural light and reducing the need for artificial light. The photovoltaic system provides electricity when to the house when it is need and feed sit back to the grid when it is producing more than it needs. Using heat from the sun thermal collectors supply the house with hot water. part of the roof has been covered with plants such as sedum that provide natural insulation and fire resistance.
I carried on researching net zero properties and linked technologies all of which can be found in my ED505 module: New and future developments in Design and Technology.
The Cannon Beach Residence was designed by Nathan Good Architects. It has been designed not only to be net zero energy but also using recycled and salvaged materials where ever possible. Wind-fallen trees were used for the timber-frame construction, while the cherry wood used in the kitchen fixtures came from certified sustainable sources.
The design of the building incorporated large south facing windows allowing lots of natural light and reducing the need for artificial light. The photovoltaic system provides electricity when to the house when it is need and feed sit back to the grid when it is producing more than it needs. Using heat from the sun thermal collectors supply the house with hot water. part of the roof has been covered with plants such as sedum that provide natural insulation and fire resistance.
I carried on researching net zero properties and linked technologies all of which can be found in my ED505 module: New and future developments in Design and Technology.
Card board vacuum cleaners!
What have I learned? ****
I have a much better understanding of sustainability issues now. At first I knew a little about renewable sources but over the months I have come to understand a lot more. I had always thought recycling was beneficial to our planet, I had never considered taking into account the carbon footprint needed to recycle materials until I worked with about recycling and the carbon footprint to do so.
I realise now designers are asked to take different considerations into account. It may be to use recycled materials or to use materials that can be recycled. It may even be to consider the carbon footprint throughout a products life including what impact it will make when it is no longer usable.There are many considerations that might be placed upon different products. It may be the carbon footprint of a vacuum cleaner throughout its life. Not just the amount of energy it uses but what happens to the product at the end of its life. How recyclable it is. I realise products can be made of the most unlikely environmentally friendly materials like the cardboard vacuum cleaners or from salvage like the vacuum cleaners made from plastic cleaned from the sea bed.
I guess the most important thing I have learned is there are lots of approaches to sustainability and the impact of design upon our environment. I am sure I have a lot more to learn but the difference between now and at the beginning of the year is that I now find sustainability interesting. It is interesting the way it influences design and design considerations.