Free online--a new skill for a climate-constrained future.Design Transformed: Whole System Design for Climate Change Mitigation is a free online training package developed by leading sustainability think-tank, The Natural Edge Project (TNEP TNEP The Natural Edge Project (Australia) TNEP Tumor Neuroectodérmico Primitivo (Spanish) TNEP Transnational Education Program (Western Michigan University) ), with the support of the Federal Department of Environment and Water Resources, Sustainability Education Grants Program. The package consists of 10 downloadable units (approximately 260 A4 pages), the first five of which explain the benefits, principles and implementation of whole system sustainable design, including an outline of 10 key elements of the process, and how the approach fits with current systems engineering project management frameworks. Units 6-10 provide five worked examples, including a pump example well cited by advocates, providing calculations to demonstrate the methodology. In the acclaimed 1999 book Natural Capitalism Natural capitalism is a set of trends and economic reforms designed to reward energy and material efficiency, and to remove professional standards and accounting conventions that prevent such efficiencies. by Paul Hawken Paul Hawken (b. 8 February 1946) is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist, and best-selling author. At age 20, he dedicated his life to changing the relationship between business and the environment, and between human and living systems in order to create a more just and , Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins L. Hunter Lovins, renowned author and champion of sustainable development for over 30 years, is the founder and President of Natural Capitalism, Inc. and Natural Capitalism Solutions, a 501(c)3 non-profit in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. , the authors detail a case study that attests to the value of 'whole system' design. Rethinking a new factory pump system for US carpet manufacturer Interface, the design engineer managed to cut pump size requirements by 92 per cent with a series of design changes across the entire hydraulics system, treating it as a system rather than focusing on particular components first. These changes included specifying larger pipes to reduce friction and optimising the pipe layout. The redesign reduced energy use and capital costs, and improved system performance. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As this case study demonstrates, whole system design is all about the bigger picture and the longer term--important considerations for new buildings, technologies and products that have long 'design lives' and a significant environmental impact over their life cycle. Companies such as Interface, Toyota, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Lend Lease, Dupont, WalMart and Mitsubishi are now using whole system design for everything from pump systems to cars, computer servers, buildings and water management systems. Education is obviously the best way of preparing the next generation of engineers, designers and architects to meet forecast demand for these design skills. In 2007, the TNEP package was trialled at the Australian National University and is now part of the second year Systems Design course. Available at www.naturaledgeproject. net/Whole_Systems_Design_Suite.aspx |
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