Improving Eco-Efficiency in Office Environments: Design for Good Use

DS 58-7: Proceedings of ICED 09, the 17th International Conference on Engineering Design, Vol. 7, Design for X / Design to X, Palo Alto, CA, USA, 24.-27.08.2009

Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Rojas, Johanna; Collado-Ruiz, Daniel
Series: ICED
Section: Design for X, Design to X
Page(s): 115-126

Abstract

Eco-efficiency has been analyzed for many industrial activities, although some environments such as office have been disregarded. Even though with a low relative impact, the high amount of office equipment can represent an environmental problem. This project assesses office spaces and proposes alternatives to improve their Eco-efficiency. Worth of products and systems, as well as environmental considerations, were identified inside two companies. This paper describes the experiment, and points out the user activities that can potentially be changed in order to reduce the high impact on the use phase. Some of those prospective improvements are explained, and some ground rules are set for what in this paper is called Design for Good Use.

Keywords: Eco-efficiency, Ecodesign, Worth, Environmental Impact, Design for X.

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