Radical resource productivity Sustainability Radical resource productivity Whole system design Biomimicry Green chemistry Industrial ecology Renewable energy Green nanotechnology R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

means surviving to infinity. Sustainability means surviving to infinity. Conventional economic view Ecological economic view vs Biased to Man-made capital (buildings & equipment) Biased to Natural capital (natural resources & ecosystem services) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Examples of Natural Capital: Natural resources: - water, minerals, biomass and oil Ecosystem services: - Land which provides space to live and work - Water and nutrient cycling - Purification of water and air - Atmospheric and ecological stability - Pollination and biodiversity - Pest and disease control - Topsoil and biological productivity - Waste decomposition and detoxification R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Very Weak (Solow-) Sustainability SD is achievable as long as the total of natural capital (KN) plus the man-made capital (KM) remains constant. i.e., KN + KM = constant Conventional Economic View: It is okay to reduce KN stocks as far as they are being substituted by increase in KM stocks. Rationale: Increasing man-made stocks provide high incomes, which lead to increased levels of environmental protectionism. (Substitutability Paradigm) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Very Weak (Solow-) Sustainability Criticism: What about the following substitutions to maintain KM + KN = constant? Boats for Fish Pumps for Aquifers Saw mills for Forests (Substitutability Paradigm) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Weak (Modified Solow-) Sustainability SD is achievable by maintaining KN + KM = constant only by preserving the non-substitutable proportion and/or components of KN stocks. Rationale: Upper limits on the non-substitutable proportion and/or components of KN stocks are needed to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem resilience to meet the human needs. Problem: Yet there is no scientific consensus over the set of physical indicators required to monitor and measure biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Eg: How much CO2 could be emitted? R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Strong Sustainability SD is achievable only when KN = constant. (Non-substitutability Paradigm) Rationale: Non-substitutability of some components of KN; Uncertainty about ecosystem functioning and their total service value; Irreversibility of some environmental resource degradation and/or loss; Scale of human impact relative to global carrying capacity (scale effect) Eg: greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion and acid rain R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Criticism of Weak & Strong Sustainabilities They both assume a centralized decision-making process and a decision-maker who decides on behalf of “society” among alternative programs and plans. In reality, virtually all economic decisions are decentralized among many much narrower interests, namely individuals, family groups, or firms. Even with the best concerns for the welfare of future generations and the planet, most decision-makers optimize within a much narrower context. Eg: Purchase of a car R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: R. U. Ayres, ‘Viewpoint: weak versus strong sustainability’

forcing it to seek remedies. Natural Capitalism Industrial Capitalism recognizes the value of money and goods as capital. Natural Capitalism extends recognition to natural capital and human capital. Problems such as pollution and social injustice may then be seen as failures to properly account for capital, rather than as inherent features of Capitalism itself. Eg: Polluting with a car or not being able to afford a car will be seen as a failure of the political system forcing it to seek remedies. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: P. Hawken, A. Lovins and H. Lovins, 1999 ‘Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution.’

Tata’s nano car – any comments? R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

An innovation? Negative direction in Industrial Capitalism Positive direction in Natural Capitalism An innovation? R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: www.cartoonstock.com/directory/t/traffic_jams.asp

Natural Capitalism The "next industrial revolution" depends on four central strategies: - conservation of resources through more effective manufacturing processes - reuse of materials as found in natural systems - change in values from quantity to quality - investing in natural capital, or restoring and sustaining natural resources R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: P. Hawken, A. Lovins and H. Lovins, 1999 ‘Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution.’

Radical resource productivity Sustainability Radical resource productivity Whole system design Biomimicry Green chemistry Industrial ecology Renewable energy Green nanotechnology R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) means doing more with less for longer. An (engineering) drive to dramatically increase the output per unit input of resources (such as energy, man-made materials & natural resources such as air, water, or minerals). R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) The Industrial Revolution led to a radical increase in labour productivity and capital productivity at the cost of exploitation of natural resources which are considered abundant. What is needed now is a radical increase in resource productivity because it can slow or reverse resource depletion, reduce pollution caused by the inefficient use of resources, and save money. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.sustainabilitydictionary.com

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has identified the following seven elements of eco-efficiency: - reduce the material requirements for goods & services - reduce the energy intensity of goods & services - enhance material recyclability - maximize sustainable use of renewable resources - extend product durability increase the service intensity of goods & services - reduce toxic dispersion R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) Increasing efficiency could result in Rebound Effect Example of Rebound Effect: In Scotland, about a 66% efficiency increase was realized in making of steel per unit amount of coal consumed. It was however followed by a tenfold increase in total consumption of coal. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) Increasing efficiency could result in Rebound Effect Example of Rebound Effect: A consumer saved 90% electricity by replacing an inefficient light bulb by a 90% more efficient one. He/she may forget to turn the light off and/or may leave it on for prolonged periods. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) Increasing efficiency could result in Rebound Effect Example of Rebound Effect: A family purchased a hybrid car which is 50% more efficient than a standard car. It paid half as much for petrol to go a km. Therefore it may decide to drive the car more. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Radical Resource Productivity (or Eco-efficiency) Purposeful sustainability policies and incentives for sustainability orientated behaviour change are needed to make efficiency savings meaningful. Otherwise efficiency saving can lead to rebound effects that lead to even greater resource consumption due to either making a process much cheaper or removing the financial incentive for behaviour change. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

On critical elements R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Calculation of Global Sustainable Limiting Rate of Zinc Consumption: 1. Virgin material supply limit: The reserve base for zinc in 1999 was 430 x 1012 g (430 Tg), so the virgin material supply limit over the next 50 years is 430 Tg / 50 years = 8.6 Tg/yr. 2. Allocation of virgin material: Allocating the available zinc equally among all the world’s population gives approximately 8.6 Tg/7.5 billions people = 1.15 kg/(person.yr) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: Graedel, T.E. and Klee, R.J., 2002. Getting serious about sustainability, Env. Sci. & Tech. 36(4): 523-9

Calculation of Global Sustainable Limiting Rate of Zinc Consumption: 3. Regional “re-captureable” resource base: Assume 30% zinc recycling rate. And, if the system is in steady state and if 30% of the 1.15 kg/(person.yr) is recycled, then each person in the region actually has (1+0.3)(1.15) = 1.5 kg/(person.yr) of zinc available. 4. Current consumption rate vs. sustainable limiting rate: In 1999, the U.S. on average consumed 1.6 Tg for a population of 260 million people, which translates to a U.S. per capita zinc consumption of 6.2 kg/(person.yr). R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: Graedel, T.E. and Klee, R.J., 2002. Getting serious about sustainability, Env. Sci. & Tech. 36(4): 523-9

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A direct-drive permanent-magnet generator for a top capacity wind turbine would use 4,400 lb of neodymium-based permanent magnet material. 300 kg per 2 GW wind power R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

Inside the Baotou Xijun Rare Earth refinery in Baotou, where neodymium, essential in new wind turbine magnets, is processed R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

The lake of toxic waste at Baotou, China, which as been dumped by the rare earth processing plants in the background R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

Villagers Su Bairen, 69, and Yan Man Jia Hong, 74, stand on the edge of the six-mile-wide toxic lake in Baotou, China that has devastated their farmland and ruined the health of the people in their community R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

Radical resource productivity Sustainability Radical resource productivity Whole system design Biomimicry Green chemistry Industrial ecology Renewable energy Green nanotechnology R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

optimizes an entire system to capture synergies. Whole System Design optimizes an entire system to capture synergies. What is synergy? Synergy means combined effort being greater than parts R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/10xe.shtml

Synergy in Ecosystem Mutualism: both populations benefit and neither can survive without the other Protocooperation: both populations benefit but the relationship is not obligatory Commensalism: one population benefits and the other is not affected R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Antagonism (the opposite to synergy) in Ecosystem Amensalism - one is inhibited and the other is not affected Competition – one’s fitness is lowered by the presence of the other Parasitism – one is inhibited and for the other its obligatory R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design Take a look at an age-old example of synergy: R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design A modern example of synergy: Pumping is the largest use of electric motors, which use more than 50% of world’s electricity use. One heat-transfer loop was designed to use 14 pumps totalling 71 kW by a top Western firm. Dutch engineer Jan Schilham cut the design’s pumping power use by 92% to just 5 kW (using the methods learned from the efficiency expert Eng Lock Lee of Singapore) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/ LovinsLovins1997.pdf

Whole System Design How was that possible? The pipes diameter was increased. Since friction reduction is proportional to diameter5, small pumps were enough. Pipes were laid out before the equipment installation. The pipes are therefore short and straight, with far less friction, requiring smaller and cheaper pumps, motors and inverters. The straighter pipes also allowed to add more insulation, saving 70 kW of heat loss with a 2-month payback. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/ LovinsLovins1997.pdf

A typical production plant scenario Window (fixed into wall) Machine press (movable) (2) Elevation (Z2 = 10 m) Elevation (Z1 = 0 m) (1) A Q R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Conventional Design Solution R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design Solution Larger diameter pipes Avoid 90 degree bends And much more R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Comparing the cost of the two solutions D (m) Pipes and components cost P (W) Pump cost Total capital cost Running cost Life cycle cost (-NPV) Conven-tional 0.015 $835 1025 $616 $1451 $61/mth $12,989 WSD 0.03 $914 119 $331 $1245 $9/mth $2947 Synergy means combined effort being greater than parts R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design What about the cost? Optimizing the lifecycle savings in pumping energy plus capital cost of the whole system showed that the extra cost of the slightly bigger pipes was smaller than the cost reduction for the dramatically smaller pumps and drive systems. Whole-system life cycle costing is widely used in principle, but in practice, energy-using components are usually optimized (if at all) over the short term, singly, and in isolation. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://stephenschneider.stanford.edu/Publications/PDF_Papers/ LovinsLovins1997.pdf

Whole System Design Traditional engineering design process focuses on optimizing components for single benefits rather than whole systems for multiple benefits. WSD requires creativity, good communication, and a desire to look at causes of problems rather than adopting familiar solutions, and it requires getting to the root of the problem. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/10xe.shtml

Whole System Design Sustainable Buildings An example: Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building in British Columbia all heating and cooling from the ground underneath the building all electricity from the sun use 100% day-lighting during the day use no external water supply depend on natural ventilation and sustainable building materials treat all waste produced minimize the use of private automobiles have hospital operating room levels of air quality improve the productivity and health of building occupants Sustainable Buildings R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Virtual tour at http://cirs.ubc.ca/building CIRS building in British Columbia R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Virtual tour at http://cirs.ubc.ca/building

Whole System Design Sustainable Buildings Humane Green Smart (occupants are happy, healthy and productive) Green (siting, water, energy, and material efficiencies reduce the building footprint) Smart (fully adaptive to new conditions while being cost competitive) Sustainable Buildings R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design Like the engineering profession itself, engineering education is compartmentalized, with minimal consideration of systems, design, sustainability, and economics. The traditional design process focuses on optimizing components for single benefits rather than whole systems for multiple benefits. This, plus schedule-driven repetitis (i.e., copy the previous drawings), perpetuates inferior design. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/10xe.shtml

Whole System Design Worked Examples on WSD from Natural Edge Project, Australia Example 1: Industrial Pumping Systems Example 2: Passenger Vehicles Example 3: Electronic and Computer Systems Example 4: Temperature Control of Buildings Example 5: Domestic Water Systems (Uploaded at www.rshanthini.com) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/Whole_System_Design.aspx

Whole System Design Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design Hypercar Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design The Volkswagen 1-litre car: - It is two-person concept car produced by Volkswagen. - 1-litre car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel - It is produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the L1 (100 km/L) It was modified again in 2011 as the XL1 (100 km/0.9 L). R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design The Volkswagen 1-litre car: XL1 L1 In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Whole System Design Rocky Mountain Institute started a Factor Ten Engineering (“10XE”), a four-year program to develop and introduce pedagogic tools on whole-system design for both engineering students and practicing engineers. The focus is on case studies where whole-system design boosted resource productivity by at least tenfold, usually at lower initial cost than traditional engineering approaches. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 http://www.rmi.org/rmi/10xE

Radical resource productivity Sustainability Radical resource productivity Whole system design Biomimicry Green chemistry Industrial ecology Renewable energy Green nanotechnology R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Study nature, observe its ingenious designs and processes, and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. ‘Nature knows what works, what is appropriate, and what lasts here on Earth.’ R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Janine Benyus Author of ‘Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature’, a book that has galvanized scientists, architects, designers and engineers into exploring new ways in which nature's successes can inspire humanity. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/janine_benyus_shares_nature_s_designs.html R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Termite mounds include flues which vent through the top and sides, and the mound itself is designed to catch the breeze. As the wind blows, hot air from the main chambers below ground is drawn out of the structure, helped by termites opening or blocking tunnels to control air flow. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Eastgate centre (shopping centre and office block) at central Harare, Zimbabwe is modelled on local termite mounds and is ventilated and cooled entirely by natural means. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Super-grip gecko tape modelled after gecko’s feet Biomimicry (or Bionics) Super-grip gecko tape modelled after gecko’s feet R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Trapped air on the rough surface of the lotus leaf reduces liquid-to-solid contact area. Due to self-attraction, water forms a sphere. Due to natural adhesion between water and solids, dirt particles on a leaf's surface stick to the water. The slightest angle in the surface of the leaf causes balls of water to roll off the leaf surface, carrying away the attached dirt particles. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://biomimicryinstitute.org/case-studies/

Biomimicry (or Bionics) GreenShield™ coats textile fibres with liquid repelling nano particles in order to create water and stain repellency on textiles, and results in a 10-fold decrease in the use of environmentally harmful fluorocarbons (the conventional means of achieving repellency). Other products inspired by the Lotus Effect include Lotusan paint and Signapur glass finish. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Fiber that can stop bullets is made from petroleum-derived molecules at high-pressure and high temperature with concentrated sulfuric acid. The energy input is extreme and the toxic byproducts are horrible. Spider makes equally strong and much tougher fiber at body temperature, without high pressures, heat, or corrosive acids. If we could act like the spider, we could take a soluble, renewable raw material and make a super-strong water-insoluble fiber with negligible energy inputs and no toxic outputs. Janine Benyus, 1997 R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Nature runs on sunlight Nature uses only the energy it needs Nature fits form to function Nature recycles everything Nature rewards cooperation Nature banks on diversity Nature demands local expertise Nature curbs excesses from within Nature taps the power of limits Janine Benyus, 1997 R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Nature fits form to function An owl can fly silently to avoid being heard or seen. - A penguin uses its "wings" to swim due to the large portion of water in their environment. Anymore……. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) Nature taps the power of limits we humans regard limits as something to be overcome so we can continue our expansion. Other Earthlings take their limits more seriously, knowing they must function within a tight range of life-friendly temperatures, harvest within the carrying capacity of the land, and maintain an energy balance that cannot be borrowed against. R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

Biomimicry (or Bionics) We flew like a bird for the first time in 1903, and by 1914, we were dropping bombs from the sky. Perhaps in the end, it will not be a change in technology that will bring us to the biomimetic future, but a change of heart, a humbling that allows us to be attentive to nature's lessons. - Janine Benyus, 1997 R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012

How to evaluate innovation? We need to consider how an innovation will impact the planet. So ask these questions: Does it run on sunlight? Does it use only the energy it needs? Does it fit form to function? Does it recycle everything? Does it reward cooperation? Does it bank on diversity? Does it utilize local expertise? Does it curb excess from within? Does it tap the power of limits? Is it beautiful? R. Shanthini 10 Dec 2012 Source: http://www.wanderings.net/notebook/Main/BiomimicryByJanineBenyus