Low-carbon product conceptual design from the perspectives of technical system and human use

Abstract

Product conceptual design plays a decisive role in carbon emission of the products. Unfortunately, the traditional design methods based on carbon footprint calculation are not suitable for the conceptual design stage, and the latest low-carbon conceptual design research mainly focus on technology development to reduce carbon emissions at the manufacturing stage and less on carbon emissions caused by the unsustainable human use. This makes low-carbon product conceptual design less effective. To address this, a low-carbon conceptual design method is proposed for improving existing products, in which an improved process of requirements elicitation and analysis is implemented firstly, and then the improvement strategies are proposed from the perspectives of technical system and human use to help establish a low-carbon function structure. The conceptual design of a boiling water dispenser is taken as a case study. As a result, 5 low-carbon design strategies and a low-carbon function structure were comprehensively obtained. Next, by calculating the energy consumption of the assumed ideal scenario, it can be found that the re-designed product can save 39.4% energy compared to the existing product in the use stage. The results showed that the proposed method is effective in the generation of low-carbon design schemes at the conceptual design stage.

Big Data driven Product Design: A Survey

“…Yamashina et al [12] integrated QFD and TRIZ method to perform washing machine design. Ai et al [83] designed low-carbon products from the perspectives of technical system and human use, and obtained measures to improve energy efficiency through TRIZ. complex; small survey scope…”

System Approach in Complex Integral Design Methodology and Its Application in New Zealand

“…At the conceptual design stage, demands, functions, and values need to be prioritized and identified from the perspective of all four quadrants. Therefore, CIDNZ adds to the technical system and human use perspectives [94], which represent the behavioural view (the upper right quadrant), intentional, social, and cultural perspectives.…”

“…At this stage, decisions are made that have an influence on the final carbon emissions [94], thermal and hygrothermal performance, indoor air quality, and the impact on the environment and human well-being. Designers aim to eliminate structure defects in the design [89].…”

Analysis and Evaluation of Energy Consumption and Carbon Emission Levels of Products Produced by Different Kinds of Equipment Based on Green Development Concept

“…In recent years, the rapid development of the product manufacturing industry has seriously overdrawn resources and damaged the environment. Global environmental problems, such as the greenhouse effect, acid rain, haze, ozone consumption, air pollution, water-source pollution, land pollution, river closure, land desertification, and soil erosion, threaten the survival of mankind [1][2][3]. Traditional industries characterized as high-input, high-consumption, high-pollution, low-quality, low-benefit, low-output, and high-pollution, no longer meet social development needs.…”