(For some reason the link tool will not work for the url's I provide. I will just post plain text instead.
Summary
Over the course of my time spent in college, I have felt like I understand a little more about how the real world functions. In turn I have created, for myself, a loving and caring feeling for nature and especially the Earth. The bottom line: This is the only planet we have and in order to maintain our ecosystem and assured way of life, attention must be paid to the creation and management of current designs. Design is the core element of everything human made. Some idea was constructed, either a problem presented itself in life or through modification, a new invention was created. What I have begun to notice is that our world is slowly dying. It doesn't matter if speculations on global warming are true or false, the point is that something is changing. Weather is harsher, natural disasters are more catastrophic, and species are dying out. This is due to us, humans, and the fact that we are now an active force in nature. Based on what we do in the future, will set the stage for the entire planet. This is why it is crucial to design with the environment in mind and learn to co exist just like the rest of nature does so that our planet can support vast amounts of life for a long time. What really got me passionate about choosing this topic was that presentation in design class about the environment. I came to the conclusion that along with chemicals, Carbon Dioxide emissions are the most important issues to address. Some ideas for a solution or control can be seen in plant life or the management of harmful substances.
External Sources
1. Autodesk and their innovative programing.
This video is about a program company called Autodesk that produces and designs many people use to virtually design a draft of 3d objects. I personally have used a program made by Autodesk and I have to say that this new program that helps incorporate environmental additions is an excellent feature. The video explains that designing with the environment is more cost effective rather than adding features to an existing project.
2. Simply searched "Designing for the Environment" on google and came up with the wiki page for a group called DfE or "Designing for the Environment". It was an interesting website that explained what the group stands for and some of the changes it's trying to make. Along with that page, I found a .gov video that mentions what the DfE is all about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_to_the_Environment
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/multimedia/recognizedforsaferchemistry/dfe_video_popup.html
3. This page is a description on HP's take on the policies that the DfE has. It is good to know that along with new innovative design, a large company is trying to do its part to make safe products for the environment as well as humans
4. My favorite so far, a TED talk about how mushrooms can be the new Styrofoam. Since Styrofoam is so harmful to the environment, production and the fact that it takes so long to break down, there has been a new breakthrough material called Mycelium. Not only can you grow it into any mold you wish, but it decomposes perfectly within nature. To top it off, the Mycelium functions the same as styrofoam and can be insulating as well as heat resistant.
5. The book: Design + Environment By Helen Lewis & John Gertsakis
This book, defines my topic. Since I do not own this book i looked at a preview on google. So far the outlining on the contents is straightforward but has interesting chapters like: Assessing environmental impacts, Why focus on design?, and Avoiding hazardous materials. I'm actually considering buying this. But since i'm poor...yeah...
http://books.google.com/books?id=3tQyPkMAkIkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=design+%2B+environment+helen+lewis&source=bl&ots=XT7Z5mbLtR&sig=z-8CHJm06EnxQNTNf3SjxFy20F0&hl=en&ei=swhiTezVOon4gAfZ3ISxAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
(Link to google page)
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