Question 7-3

1
Question 7-3
Could environmental considerations lead the
design process or is it a natural side effect of
product optimisation ?
2
Could environmental considerations lead the
design process or is it a natural side effect of
product optimisation ?
AbcdSpecial reportQuestion 7-3

• Answer Improvements are not a natural side
  effect.
• To be most effective environmental issues must be
  considered throughout the design process taking
  into account the whole of a product life cycle
  from concept to disposal or in other words from
  cradle to grave.
• However, environmental considerations cannot be
  the only parameter driving a product development,
  but must form an integral part of it.
• There are often many equally good answers to a
  technical question. The parameter environment
  can then become decisive and thus a leading
  factor.

3
Example Development of a new range of vacuum
interrupters using A Design
For The Environment Approach
AbcdSpecial reportQuestion 7-3

• All stages from cradle to grave considered
  some examples
• 1) Development process reduction of short
  circuit tests by ten shifts by computer modelling
  ? saving 120 MWh or 150 k
• 2) The new design weight reduction by 40
  leading to product life span savings of 2 700
  tons or 8 000 k
• 3) Manufacturing process
• Surface treatment reduction of fresh water
  consumption by 6000 m3 over product life span
  due to new design process
• Seal-off reduction of electricity consumption by
  40x106 kWh over product life span due to
  improved seal-off method increasing at the same
  time the furnace capacity by factor of 2,6.
• Conditioning / testing replacement of SF6 by
  compressed air
• 4) End-of-life disposal elimination of all toxic
  materials / additives

4
AbcdSpecial reportQuestion 7-3
Environmental audit radar graph created using
EIME(Environmental Information and Management
Explorer)
5
AbcdSpecial reportQuestion 7-3
ConclusionThis project using a design for the
environment approach during all stages has been
very successful in combining significant benefits
to the environment with substantial financial
benefits for our company.
Being environmentally friendly makes good
business sense