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Measuring Impacts on the Environment

Measuring Impacts on the Environment. Biologically Inspired Design 15 October 2009 Craig Tovey. Main Conceptual Points. Define System Boundaries Environmental Impact s , in the plural. Measurement is multidimensional Comparison is usually much easier than an evaluation from scratch

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Measuring Impacts on the Environment

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  1. Measuring Impacts on the Environment Biologically Inspired Design 15 October 2009 Craig Tovey

  2. Main Conceptual Points • Define System Boundaries • Environmental Impacts, in the plural. Measurement is multidimensional • Comparison is usually much easier than an evaluation from scratch • Evaluate the product’s entire lifecycle

  3. Main Factual Points • Waste • Carbon Dioxide • Water • Habitat or Green Space • Toxins • Use of non-renewable resources

  4. System Boundaries Only measure what crosses system boundaries • It is never easy to define the system • Example: use wood in Georgia  Transport wood by truck • Example: use electricity in Georgia  Burn coal

  5. Impact is Multidimensional • Dimension: something you can measure • What is better, paper or plastic? • What is better, a hybrid or gasoline car?

  6. Impact is Multidimensional • Dimension: something you can measure • What is better, paper or plastic? I don’t know • What is better, a hybrid or gasoline car? I don’t know

  7. Impact is Multidimensional • Dimension: something you can measure • What is better, paper or plastic? I don’t know • What is better, a hybrid or gasoline car? I don’t know But I can tell you the tradeoffs

  8. Waste • Measure by weight (e.g. kg) • Stuff that goes into landfills • Does not include toxic waste

  9. Carbon Dioxide • Global Warming • Greenhouse Gases • Carbon Dioxide Equivalents, in kg or lb

  10. Water • Gallons of clean water used

  11. Greenspace • Acres or km^2 of forest, jungle, arable land destroyed • Habitat destruction • Endangered species are markers for habitats

  12. Toxins • Crude measure in kg • Tables of toxicity sometimes available but unclear how to use e.g. plutonium.

  13. Nonrenewable Resources • Oil • Coal • Natural Gas • Metals and metal-bearing minerals

  14. Comparison • x-x = 0 even if you don’t know x. • Often much easier • Be consistent about system boundaries • FUNCTION, not activity car-years, not cars; warmth not BTUs.

  15. Lifecycle Analysis • Manufacture • Transportation and Storage • Use • End-of-Life. Disassemble, possibly recycle • Examples: decommission nuclear reactor; dispose of battery

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