" The world will not evolve past it's current state of crisis by using the same thinking that created the situation"-Einstein
I read this book at the start of the module but never blogged about it. It was such an interesting book that gave me a completley different insight. It made me realise that we are stuck in a deep rut due to our priorities lying elsewhere.
It seems that everything designers produce has it's drawbacks to the environment (the book isn't completely negative)
Whilst reading the book I wrote down some points that I thought were vital/interesting.
"Recycled? perhaps it is more accurate to say downcycled [...] wrestling them into this form has requiredas much energy and generated as much waste as a new carpet"
"Nature doesn't have a design problem, people do" p. 16
"There were many heads of state but no real leaders" p. 51
"In a world dominated by efficiency each development would serveonly narrow and practical purposes. Beauty, creativity, fantasy, enjoyment, inspiration and poetry would fall by the wayside creating an unappealing world indeed"
This book completely opened my mind. However, it is important to acknowledge that the authors may be biased.
An interesting fact that I didn't know was that biodegradable objects, such as food, have a less likely chance to decompose at landfill due to mixing with chemicals from other waste.
GDES 3003 Amanda Rowlands
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
What's the Fracking idea?
"Hydraulic Fracturing is a method used to extract natural gas from shale rock
formations in which it is trapped. Engineers drill a hole deep into the rock where the gas is trapped, and then
inject a mixture of sand, water and chemicals into the hole at an extremely
high pressure.This causes the rock to split, releasing the gas into the well so that it can
be brought up to the surface.The natural gas, which is produced and trapped in rock formations following
the breakdown of organic matter, is in such high demand it is known as "energy
gold". Britain has sizeable resources of shale gas underneath the Pennines, some of
the home counties and parts of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, meaning
it could be a cheaper alternative to importing fossil fuels.
One major report earlier this year found that the risk of water sources being contaminated was no higher with fracking than other drilling processes, and that most pollution was due to mistakes made at ground level such as spillage of waste water.
But another study recently claimed that emissions released into the atmosphere during the process could cause headaches and breathing problems in people living up to half a mile away.
The Blackpool earthquake was the first direct evidence of fracking causing seismic activity, but the report's authors argue there is only a minimal risk of a tremor big enough to damage any buildings or people"
Great. This danergous form of energy is being done practically on my front door step. Luckily, my household gets water from thr River Dee. There is a collection of people in Blackpool who are completley against this movement as they have 'evaulated' all the risks.
The concerns listed HERE are;
One major report earlier this year found that the risk of water sources being contaminated was no higher with fracking than other drilling processes, and that most pollution was due to mistakes made at ground level such as spillage of waste water.
But another study recently claimed that emissions released into the atmosphere during the process could cause headaches and breathing problems in people living up to half a mile away.
The Blackpool earthquake was the first direct evidence of fracking causing seismic activity, but the report's authors argue there is only a minimal risk of a tremor big enough to damage any buildings or people"
Great. This danergous form of energy is being done practically on my front door step. Luckily, my household gets water from thr River Dee. There is a collection of people in Blackpool who are completley against this movement as they have 'evaulated' all the risks.
The concerns listed HERE are;
- Lack of regulations – this is a self-regulating industry.
- Substantial health risks from air and water pollution.
- There is a huge risk to the environment, particularly through chemical spills.
- Contamination of the aquifer through poor well design – no independent agency is checking well integrity.
- Very large radioactive sources are used during wireline logging, compromising public health. Security is also an issue should these sources fall into the hands of criminals or terrorists.
- There will be an increase in traffic with 500 trucks per well and up to 800 wells across the Fylde and nearby areas – that’s a lot of trucks on our roads.
- The process uses vast amounts of water – millions of gallons per well. The water will be supplied by United Utilities and will be fresh drinking water.
- Up to 40% of water used comes back up the well as contaminated fracking sludge. It contains chemicals, heavy metals and naturally occuring radon. This contaminated sludge hasn’t, as yet, got a permit from the EA to be transported to a treatment facility. Where will it go to be treated? There will be hundreds of trucks on our roads carrying this sludge – what if there is an accident?
- We have already had two notable earthquakes and numerous small ones, which Cuadrilla addmitted have been linked to fracking at Preece Hall. What more is to come?
- There is a very real risk of substantial land subsidence. The Fylde is a low lying area – there could eventually be up to 2,400 miles of horizontal shafts below the surface, posing a real threat of substantial slippage.
- The Fylde will be turned into an industrial zone and will have a negative knock-on effect on our main industry – tourism
 |
| Image from BBC.co.uk |
Sunday, 4 November 2012
Anthropocene - The Human Epoch
'I like to compare what's going on today to the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs - except that now we are the asteroid' - Anthony Barnosky
Geologists have suggested that humanity's impact upon the atmosphere is so profound, due to the burning of fossil fuels, that we're creating a new geological time period. They're calling it the Anthropocene.
Fossil fuel emissions, climate change, agriculture and chemical pollution may all be portrayed in various ways in sediments in the seas, lakes and rivers. Millions of years from now the layers of sediment will have compacted into rock which future geologists can analyse.
The BBC news website has a lot of information on this new era...
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Task 03 Research
Think that the packaging of products you buy aren't that important? Packaging has a significant amount of influence over what you buy and why you buy them. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all tend to 'judge a book by its cover'. The packaging of a product is the first thing you see, which is why it's important that it tells you about the product, what it's for, why you need it and what values the company has. Businesses that do not invest in eco friendly materials may find that they are losing profit as society becomes increasingly aware of the importance of eco friend products.
So, what makes packaging eco friendly?
The most eco-unfriendly aspect of most packaging is how much material they use with product packaging for small items is usually 5+ times larger than it needs to be!
Task 3 stated that I must; design a theoretical prototype multiuse shoe/boot/trainer box that uses recycled or reuseable materials only.
Obviously, research into this area needed to be completed in order for me to get inspiration . Here are what I found to be the most successful. Top 5 (no order).
1) Newton's eco-friendly packaging is my from 100% post consumer recycled material. The shape of the carton is moulded closely to the shape of the shoe, consequently there is no need for tissue paper. Instead of stuffing paper inside of the shoe, in order for them to retain their shape, Newton includes a pair of socks and a reuseable shoe bag! Clever Newton.
3) PureProject produced tear-shaped bamboo tubes in which one pair of shoes fits snuggly inside. Although they're not that environmentally friendly to produce, at least the tube can be re-used. There is an illustrated instructions booklet at the top of the tube informing the consumer on how the tube can be reused. It is a unique way to explain how consumers can make use of every last bit of their purchase.
4) Catherine Meuter. Okay, this isn't technically packaging but with shoes this small the packaging is bound to be small.I am a little bit in love with these shoes. After finding them I went on a one woman mission to see if you could buy them. You can't...apparently these are just visions of what could be. The consumer experiences the transformation of the shoe from it's intial flat state into a comfortable and wearable shoe. The shoe is reinforced by the folded parts. I will consider using origami in my design as it will make the box/container stronger.
5) Timberland earthkeepers come in a 100% recycled material shoebox with a biodegradable handle that includes a latch system preventing the shoes from falling out. Not only is it produced from recycled products but it emphasises the importance of reusing the box and not throwing it away. It can be flattened, stored and reused. It was also designed by a student!
So, what makes packaging eco friendly?
*Recycled materials
*Sustainable materials (cotton, bamboo, etc.)
*Biodegradable material (unbleached paper)
*Reusable materials (such as glass bottles)
The most eco-unfriendly aspect of most packaging is how much material they use with product packaging for small items is usually 5+ times larger than it needs to be!
Task 3 stated that I must; design a theoretical prototype multiuse shoe/boot/trainer box that uses recycled or reuseable materials only.
Obviously, research into this area needed to be completed in order for me to get inspiration . Here are what I found to be the most successful. Top 5 (no order).
2) Puma have done a lovely job on cutting down the amount of paper they have used in product packaging. They have saved 8,500 tons of paper and the use of water and electricity used for production and transportation has been reduced by 60%. They've eneough took a risk in that it will cost more to begin with, but hopefully it will pan out and eventually lead to profit. Instead of my rambling, check this out...
Friday, 12 October 2012
Konichiwa! Ogenki desu ka? Japanese packaging
Genki desu (:
I think everybody knows that I love anything to do with Japanese culture. Everything is so precise and delicate. If you've seen the Japanese film 'Departures' you'll know what I mean (watch it, if not only for the main actor)
I'm pretty sure my face did this when I saw the word 'Japanese' on the screen...
Possibly with a little celebratory *clap* who knows?
You just sit there knowing the designs that are about to appear on the screen will be intricate and perfect in every sense.
Traditional Japanese packaging arose by using whatever natural occuring materials were close at hand. These tended to be rope or rice straw which could be unwrapped a bit at a time as and when needed. Oak leaves were also used in order to wrap rice cakes. Overall they were free of excess and were simple designs using no glue. The packages became works of art in their own right. Consequently, it implicates a new persepective on the 'what is and what isn't supposed to be thrown away' society.
A characteristic of Japanese natural packaging is the process. It is often seen as a sacred ritual. ( I don't mean to go on about this but the film Departures also helps to express this point).
Such packaging would not be possible to create without handwork. The disappearance of this style of packaging is due to the fact it is painstaking to make and therefore cannot be easily mass produced.
Photo time...because I can only explain so much.
We were then given a task to create something using 'recycled' cardboard and rope to package three oranges. The packaging had to be completed in 20 minutes and could not contain glue or tape. We were encouraged to keep the designs minimalistic yet present the oranges in a way that was aesthetically pleasing.
Billy, Paulo and I came up with the above design, it didn't really work but at least we knew where we went wrong. It was also fun to do but my fat western hands just don't do delicate. The rope was plaited to give it more strength and was threaded through in a criss-cross shape. This, in theory, was to prevent the oranges from falling off the cardboard. However, when the packaging was lifted up the oranges fell out as they were not held in tight enough.
I think everybody knows that I love anything to do with Japanese culture. Everything is so precise and delicate. If you've seen the Japanese film 'Departures' you'll know what I mean (watch it, if not only for the main actor)
I'm pretty sure my face did this when I saw the word 'Japanese' on the screen...
 |
| OTT happy face. |
You just sit there knowing the designs that are about to appear on the screen will be intricate and perfect in every sense.
Traditional Japanese packaging arose by using whatever natural occuring materials were close at hand. These tended to be rope or rice straw which could be unwrapped a bit at a time as and when needed. Oak leaves were also used in order to wrap rice cakes. Overall they were free of excess and were simple designs using no glue. The packages became works of art in their own right. Consequently, it implicates a new persepective on the 'what is and what isn't supposed to be thrown away' society.
A characteristic of Japanese natural packaging is the process. It is often seen as a sacred ritual. ( I don't mean to go on about this but the film Departures also helps to express this point).
Such packaging would not be possible to create without handwork. The disappearance of this style of packaging is due to the fact it is painstaking to make and therefore cannot be easily mass produced.
Photo time...because I can only explain so much.
We were then given a task to create something using 'recycled' cardboard and rope to package three oranges. The packaging had to be completed in 20 minutes and could not contain glue or tape. We were encouraged to keep the designs minimalistic yet present the oranges in a way that was aesthetically pleasing.
Billy, Paulo and I came up with the above design, it didn't really work but at least we knew where we went wrong. It was also fun to do but my fat western hands just don't do delicate. The rope was plaited to give it more strength and was threaded through in a criss-cross shape. This, in theory, was to prevent the oranges from falling off the cardboard. However, when the packaging was lifted up the oranges fell out as they were not held in tight enough.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
Royal Parks Half Marathon.
Okay, strictly speaking this is nothing to do with the Green Design course. However, I think it's sort of useful/interesting.
Let me get out this out of the way first;
I finally have an answer to the question
Well apparently because of the types of trees and the fact they are being planted in the rainforest, they only take 15 years to grow back. Who knew eh?
WELL ANYWAY, my boyfriend ran this race at the weekend. As I was waiting at the finish line (where I completely missed him but saw four celebrities) I listened to the announcer explaining how 'Sustainabilty was the top agenda for the race'
Copied directly from the googled website (haha)
The point being; things are changing.
Let me get out this out of the way first;
I finally have an answer to the question
"What good is it planting 3 more trees when you cut one down? Because it's going to take it 50-100 years to grow back again"
Well apparently because of the types of trees and the fact they are being planted in the rainforest, they only take 15 years to grow back. Who knew eh?
WELL ANYWAY, my boyfriend ran this race at the weekend. As I was waiting at the finish line (where I completely missed him but saw four celebrities) I listened to the announcer explaining how 'Sustainabilty was the top agenda for the race'
Copied directly from the googled website (haha)
- The winning trophy has been created by master craftsman, Mark Wilkinson, from an Oak Burr found in Richmond Park
- Wood is used for the leaf shaped finisher’s medal that everyone receives - it's your 'piece of the parks'
- Approximately 50,000 plastic bottles around the course will be recycled by Marks & Spencer
- Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon race shirts are made from bamboo and recycled polyester
- All discarded running clothes along the route are collected and donated to Oxfam
- All participants receive Fairtrade bananas to replenish energy levels after the race
- Surplus food will be collected and redistributed to those in need by Fare Share
 |
| Trophy |
 |
| Medal |
The point being; things are changing.
Task 02 Sustainable Furniture
This blog post is in relation to Task 02 where a video relating to either;
*Sustainable Architecture
*Vegetable Ink Printing
*Sustainable/multi use packaging
*Sustainable 3D Product Design
*Sustainable Furniture Design
had to be located and the 14 points of the eco-designer manifesto had to be discussed.
(I've written a lot about this topic on pages 8 & 9 of my journal.)
I chose this video
(which scores 9/10 on the cheese factor scale)
The points of the eco-designer manifesto that were discussed were;
1. Design to satisfy real needs as opposed to transient, fashionable or market-driven needs?
It does so by using the least amount of wood possible.
2. Design to minimise the ecological footprint of the product/material/service product, i.e.
reduce resource consumption, including energy and water.
The wood used is dried using solar panels. The designs are simple so that less material is used.
6. Design to engender maximum benefits to the intended audience and to educate the client
and the user and thereby create a more equable future.
Yes "where is YOUR chair from?" technique.
7. Design to use locally available materials and resources wherever possible (thinking
globally but acting locally).
Yes. This is main reason as to why it is environmentally friendly. Everything is local so that there is less travelling.
12. Design to foster debate and challenge the status quo surrounding existing
products/materials/ service products.
"Why is there a need to travel far to recieve materials?"
14. Design to create more sustainable products/materials/service products for a more
sustainable future.
"Think sustainably then design" The main concept about these designs is that the consumer learns about the benefits of such techniques.
Watching other peoples videos enabled me to realise that the video I had chosen was incredibly shoddy. Here are a few that stuck in my head.
WELL I CAN'T FIND THE COCA COLA ONE. But here's some information about it.
CLICK ME
The second one doesn't want to embed so CLICK THIS
The issue I have with this video is that it would cost a LOT to design a house like that. It also looks like the house would be freezing. Still, good effort!
*Sustainable Architecture
*Vegetable Ink Printing
*Sustainable/multi use packaging
*Sustainable 3D Product Design
*Sustainable Furniture Design
had to be located and the 14 points of the eco-designer manifesto had to be discussed.
(I've written a lot about this topic on pages 8 & 9 of my journal.)
I chose this video
(which scores 9/10 on the cheese factor scale)
The points of the eco-designer manifesto that were discussed were;
1. Design to satisfy real needs as opposed to transient, fashionable or market-driven needs?
It does so by using the least amount of wood possible.
2. Design to minimise the ecological footprint of the product/material/service product, i.e.
reduce resource consumption, including energy and water.
The wood used is dried using solar panels. The designs are simple so that less material is used.
6. Design to engender maximum benefits to the intended audience and to educate the client
and the user and thereby create a more equable future.
Yes "where is YOUR chair from?" technique.
7. Design to use locally available materials and resources wherever possible (thinking
globally but acting locally).
Yes. This is main reason as to why it is environmentally friendly. Everything is local so that there is less travelling.
12. Design to foster debate and challenge the status quo surrounding existing
products/materials/ service products.
"Why is there a need to travel far to recieve materials?"
14. Design to create more sustainable products/materials/service products for a more
sustainable future.
"Think sustainably then design" The main concept about these designs is that the consumer learns about the benefits of such techniques.
Watching other peoples videos enabled me to realise that the video I had chosen was incredibly shoddy. Here are a few that stuck in my head.
WELL I CAN'T FIND THE COCA COLA ONE. But here's some information about it.
CLICK ME
The second one doesn't want to embed so CLICK THIS
The issue I have with this video is that it would cost a LOT to design a house like that. It also looks like the house would be freezing. Still, good effort!
Friday, 5 October 2012
Rantings and 'The Age of Stupid.'
Okay, so when you actually sit down and realise what module you have chosen and you're immediately split into two. NOT ideal.
The awkward side of you is screaming 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' whilst the academic side is screaming the opposite. Why? Well because I've practically been brought up as a tree hugger. My family could quite literally live as Native Americans except we'd probably find it difficult to even kill a buffalo...This even goes back to my young childhood when my dad built a tree house without putting a single nail in the tree because 'every living thing gives off energy' yes, I did just post that in a blog. Sigh. If I think back to my Art & Design foundation course I vaguely remember that there was a time when I actually thought, 'You know what? Jib it, I'm going to go with this. If you can't beat them, join them' It even inspired my photography.
GIVE ME A CLICK
So my awkwardness stopped for a short spell...
My 27yr old brother is some kind of crazy, social, enthusiastic about everything in life whizzkid. By this I mean he seems to have the capabilty to function on NO sleep. He's interested in culture, art and science. How he crams everything into his already jam packed 'travelling the world for a living' life I do not know. The point of this paragraph is not to big him up (probably made you read this blog Adam so take a minute to deflate your ego) but to explain why my awkwardness has been rekindled.
It's very difficult for me to become interested in something that is forced upon me. I like options, I like choice and I like free will. The sentence 'WHY DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR ENVIRONMENT AMANDA?!!' has been thrust upon me by 'Our Ad' several times. As a matter of fact, I do but when every TED talk about the environment is sent to me and this lovely little cat... it gets kind of tedious. (Sidenote; I'm probably still going to ring you before each lecture so you can tell me some more facts)
Anyway, The Age of Stupid is a rather preachy film with Pete Postlethwaite (from Warrington but lived in St. Helens! woop.) which is set in the future. I can kind of understand why it's preachy because people who have no knowledge on climate change would need this. So it's the basic 'WE'RE KILLING THE WORLD' 'CHANGE YOUR WAYS' Once again, it's another plan to motivate people using fear.
The main point I got from the film is; people are hypocritical.
" Of course we care about the environment!!"
Paired with
" We do NOT want a windfarm"
Personally I actually think that they're aesthetically pleasing.
I've written/ranted so much about this in my journal so I don't see the benefit of repeating myself. I think the way to tackle climate change is not motivation by fear. After all, as a whole, the human race is selfish. The adverts need to feed the 'If I give up , what do I gain?!' I think that people would care more if they could see the benefits that sustainable energy has for their own generation and not the future generations. The majority of people seem to be reactive and not proactive. Once this mind set has been eradicated only then will we see change.
Basically, to be incredibly cheesey I'm the minority who has been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a family who see the bigger picture and want to make a difference. Who thinks that their main purpose in life is to leave a positive mark. Not just in an environmentally friendly way, but to have a positive impact on each person they meet.
'One person isn't going to make a difference' is a phrase I will never ever hear from my dad, cousin or brother.
I'll be shocked if my self-actualised dad or brother doesn't start a revolution...I fully expect this...
So for now, I'll try to tackle my stubborness. I'll stop rolling my eyes everytime my brother tells me about his newest project about 'saving the world'. I'll take it on board and let it help me with this module...haha. Besides, without this I wouldn't have written as much as I have.
Sorry 'Angie Row' I haven't mentioned you and your ozone aerosol research scientist thing. I should really know more about this...my bad...
The awkward side of you is screaming 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO' whilst the academic side is screaming the opposite. Why? Well because I've practically been brought up as a tree hugger. My family could quite literally live as Native Americans except we'd probably find it difficult to even kill a buffalo...This even goes back to my young childhood when my dad built a tree house without putting a single nail in the tree because 'every living thing gives off energy' yes, I did just post that in a blog. Sigh. If I think back to my Art & Design foundation course I vaguely remember that there was a time when I actually thought, 'You know what? Jib it, I'm going to go with this. If you can't beat them, join them' It even inspired my photography.
GIVE ME A CLICK
So my awkwardness stopped for a short spell...
My 27yr old brother is some kind of crazy, social, enthusiastic about everything in life whizzkid. By this I mean he seems to have the capabilty to function on NO sleep. He's interested in culture, art and science. How he crams everything into his already jam packed 'travelling the world for a living' life I do not know. The point of this paragraph is not to big him up (probably made you read this blog Adam so take a minute to deflate your ego) but to explain why my awkwardness has been rekindled.
It's very difficult for me to become interested in something that is forced upon me. I like options, I like choice and I like free will. The sentence 'WHY DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR ENVIRONMENT AMANDA?!!' has been thrust upon me by 'Our Ad' several times. As a matter of fact, I do but when every TED talk about the environment is sent to me and this lovely little cat... it gets kind of tedious. (Sidenote; I'm probably still going to ring you before each lecture so you can tell me some more facts)
Anyway, The Age of Stupid is a rather preachy film with Pete Postlethwaite (from Warrington but lived in St. Helens! woop.) which is set in the future. I can kind of understand why it's preachy because people who have no knowledge on climate change would need this. So it's the basic 'WE'RE KILLING THE WORLD' 'CHANGE YOUR WAYS' Once again, it's another plan to motivate people using fear.
The main point I got from the film is; people are hypocritical.
" Of course we care about the environment!!"
Paired with
" We do NOT want a windfarm"
Personally I actually think that they're aesthetically pleasing.
I've written/ranted so much about this in my journal so I don't see the benefit of repeating myself. I think the way to tackle climate change is not motivation by fear. After all, as a whole, the human race is selfish. The adverts need to feed the 'If I give up , what do I gain?!' I think that people would care more if they could see the benefits that sustainable energy has for their own generation and not the future generations. The majority of people seem to be reactive and not proactive. Once this mind set has been eradicated only then will we see change.
Basically, to be incredibly cheesey I'm the minority who has been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a family who see the bigger picture and want to make a difference. Who thinks that their main purpose in life is to leave a positive mark. Not just in an environmentally friendly way, but to have a positive impact on each person they meet.
'One person isn't going to make a difference' is a phrase I will never ever hear from my dad, cousin or brother.
I'll be shocked if my self-actualised dad or brother doesn't start a revolution...I fully expect this...
 |
| Maslow's Hierachy of Needs |
So for now, I'll try to tackle my stubborness. I'll stop rolling my eyes everytime my brother tells me about his newest project about 'saving the world'. I'll take it on board and let it help me with this module...haha. Besides, without this I wouldn't have written as much as I have.
Sorry 'Angie Row' I haven't mentioned you and your ozone aerosol research scientist thing. I should really know more about this...my bad...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)