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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Water Gallons of clean water used

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

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

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

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.

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