Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
Conceptual design guide for energy and water consumptions
Lloveras, Joaquim
Type:
Year:
2013
Editor:
Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author:
Series:
ICED
Institution:
TU Catalonia (UPC), Spain
Page(s):
311-320
ISBN:
978-1-904670-48-3
ISSN:
2220-4334
Abstract:
The present paper proposes to analyze the consumption of Energy or/and Water (E/W) in the conceptual design (CD) stage of a product, in order to optimize this consumption. The product normally spends more resources in the use stage. The paper also discusses issues in the worldwide and in Europe, and particularly in Catalonia, a Mediterranean country which has small fossil fuel deposits and has recently had periods of drought, making it necessary to watch over water consumption. This article proposes a brief methodological guide including five questions for the designer, or design team, to consider more environmental-friendly consumption alternatives. Ideally, these should be applied in the early conceptual design stage of any product for the entire world. A case study shows the work by a group of students of Creativity, Ecodesign and Patents subject (academic year 2012-13) entitled "Rainwater storage system for blocks of flats". While thinking about the questions in the methodological guide for the use of E/W, appeared a solution that eliminates the energy consumption in the operation of the installation.
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