Lecture Notes: Embodied Energy and Waste Management

Introduction

• Annie Leonard's "Story of Stuff": Discusses embodied energy in materials and reasons for waste creation.
• Complexity in making informed decisions about materials.

Case Study: Steel Chairs

• Chairs consist of multiple materials: steel, polyethylene, polypropylene.
• Importance of analyzing each component for life cycle impact:
  • Contribution to global warming.
  • Acidification effects.

Key Concept: Embodied Energy

• Definition: Sum of all energy used to produce a product, including fuel, manpower, and labor across its life cycle.
• Comparison of materials:
  • Concrete, Hardwood, Linen, Glass, Steel, Polyester.
  • Polyester has high embodied energy due to petroleum origin.
  • Biodegradability: Wood vs Polyester.

Embodied Energy vs Carbon Footprint

• Embodied Energy: Total energy required for production, includes non-polluting energy.
• Carbon Footprint: Sum of greenhouse gases emitted throughout the product's cycle.

Waste Management in Construction

• Chart depiction of waste flow from a building site:
  • Options for waste: Landfill, Reuse, Recycling, Salvage yard, Return to manufacturer.
• Reducing waste by avoiding landfill.

Strategies for Waste Reduction

• Reduce
  • Design with standardized components (e.g., drywall dimensions).
  • Smaller building units to reduce embodied energy.
• Reuse
  • Repurposing materials for new or existing functions.
  • Examples of reuse:
    • Audubon Society uses salvaged barn wood.
    • Google repurposes a water tower as a sitting nook.
    • USM Modular Furniture designs for reconfiguration and reuse.

Design for Disassembly

• Concept: Products created for easy disassembly to facilitate recycling.
• Take-back Programs: Manufacturers reclaim products for recycling.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on analyzing material components to improve waste management.
• Key strategies: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair.