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This
book is dedicated to Amory B. Lovins and Alan Pears.
To Amory, for his significant contribution to expanding
the solution space for sustainable design, and for
taking the time to mentor our team, and to Alan
for sharing with us his enthusiasm, insights and
lessons learnt from a life dedicated to whole system
design.
Whole
System Design: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable
Engineering
Whole
System Design is increasingly being seen as one
of the most cost effective ways to both increase
the productivity and reduce the negative environmental
impacts of an engineered system.
A focus
on design is critical, as the output from this
stage of the project locks-in most of the economic
and environmental performance of the designed
system throughout its life, which can span from
a few years to many decades. Indeed, it is now
widely acknowledged that all designers –
particularly engineers, architects and industrial
designers – need to be able to understand
and implement a whole system design approach.
This
book provides a clear design methodology, based
on leading efforts in the field, and is supported
by worked examples that demonstrate how advances
in energy, materials and water productivity can
be achieved through applying an integrated approach
to sustainable engineering.
Chapters 1–5 outline the approach
and explain how it can be implemented
to enhance the established Systems
Engineering framework.
Chapters 6–10 demonstrate, through
detailed worked examples, the application
of the approach to industrial pumping
systems, passenger vehicles, electronics
and computer systems, temperature
control of buildings, and domestic
water systems.
Citation:
Stasinopoulos, P., Smith, M., Hargroves,
K. and Desha, C. (2008) Whole
System Design: An Integrated Approach
to Sustainable Engineering, Earthscan,
London, and The Natural Edge
Project, Australia.
Whole
System Design: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable
Engineering
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This
document provides an example teaching plan for
working through the 10 Whole System Design lectures,
based on 2 iterations of teaching the material
to 2nd year undergraduate engineering students.
It includes a sample assessment item that uses
a problem-based learning approach. |
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Sample Course Outline
Download
Example Teaching Plan |
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Unit
1 explains the importance and relevance of a
Whole System Approach to Sustainable Design
in addressing the pressing environmental challenges
of the 21st Century. It introduces the main
concepts of a Whole System Approach to Sustainable
Design and how it complements 'design for environment'
and 'design for sustainability' strategies.
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Unit |
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Unit
2 provides an introduction to conventional Systems
Engineering, setting the context for Units 3-5.
Unit 2 highlights the similarities and differences
between some of the principles and motivations
of good Systems Engineering and a Whole System
Approach to Sustainable Design.
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Unit |
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Unit
3 illustrates clearly how a Whole System Approach
fits into the traditional engineering methodologies
of Systems Engineering that are taught in engineering
schools all around the world. This unit outlines
traditional operational Systems Engineering
processes as described in leading Systems Engineering
text books and highlights how they can be further
enhanced through a Whole System Approach for
Sustainable Design.
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Unit
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Figure 3.3 |
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Unit
4 presents a 'how-to' of the first 5 of the
10 key elements of Whole System Approach to
Sustainable Design. The application of each
element for optimal sustainability and competitive
advantage is discussed and then demonstrated
with case studies.
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Unit |
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Unit
5 presents a 'how-to' of the last 5 of the 10
Key elements of Whole System Approach to Sustainable
Design. The application of each element for
optimal sustainability and competitive advantage
is discussed and then demonstrated with case
studies. |
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Unit |
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Unit
6 comprises a worked example of a Whole System
Approach to the redesign of a single- pipe,
single-pump system, focussed on a) reconfiguring
the layout for lower head loss and b) considering
the effect of many combinations of pipe diameter
and pump power on life cycle cost. The WSD system
uses 88% less power and has a 79% lower 50-year
life cycle cost than the conventional system.
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Unit
Appendix
A | Appendix
B | Appendix
C | Appendix
D
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Binder Package |
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Unit
7 comprises a worked example of a Whole System
Approach to the redesign of a passenger vehicle
focussed on reducing mass by 52% and reducing
drag by 55%, which then reduces rolling resistance
by 65% and makes a fuel cell propulsion system
cost effective. The WSD vehicle is also almost
fully recyclable, generates zero operative emissions
and has a 95% better fuel-mass- consumption
per kilometre than the equivalent conventional
vehicle. |
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Unit |
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Unit
8 comprises a worked example of a Whole System
Approach to the redesign of a computer server
focussed on using the right-sized, energy efficient
components, which then reduces the heat generated.
The WSD server has 60% less mass and uses 84%
less power than the equivalent server, which
would reduce cooling load in a data centre by
63%. |
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Unit |
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Unit
9 comprises a worked example of a Whole System
Approach to the redesign of a simple house focussed
on: a) optimising the building orientation;
b) optimising glazing and shading; and c) using
more energy efficient electrical appliances
and lamps. While the WSD house has a $3000 greater
capital cost than the conventional house, it
has a 29% lower cooling load will reduce energy
costs by $15,000 over 30 years. |
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Unit |
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Unit
10 comprises a worked example of a Whole System
Approach to the redesign of a domestic onsite
water system focussed on: a) using water efficiency
appliances in the house; and b) optimising the
onsite wastewater treatment subsystem, which
then reduces the capacity and cost of the subsurface
drip irrigation subsystem, and reduced the operating
and maintenance costs. The WSD system uses 57%
less water and has a 29% lower 20-year life
cycle cost than the conventional system. |
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Unit |
Quotes
from the Forewords
I
was
thrilled
and
impressed
reading
this
manual
that
features
an
integrated
approach
towards
resource
productivity
and,
ultimately,
sustainability
both
at
small
and
large
scale.
Each
chapter
in
this
book
is
self-explaining
and
self-sufficient,
making
for
easy
reading
and
teaching,
but
taken
as
a
whole
it
is
a
wonderful
contribution
to
engineering
design,
as
you
would
expect
from
a
book
with
this
title.
Good
luck,
readers,
students,
and
teachers!
The
authors
have
provided
a
publication
which
can,
and
must,
be
widely
used
in
our
university
and
technical
training
institutions.
The
examples
highlight
the
simple
application
of
the
theory
presented
and
make
the
book
suitable
for
self
learning
as
well
as
in
classroom
or
tutorial
use.
The
work
of
the
Engineering
Sustainable
Solutions
Program
of
The
Natural
Edge
Project,
and
this
publication,
could
not
be
more
timely
and
relevant.
Implementation
of
the
principles
and
concepts
of
whole
system
design
can
be
effectively
applied
in
the
design
and
development
of
any
type
of
system...
I
sincerely
believe
that
implementation
of
the
concepts
presented
will
greatly
facilitate...
the
design
and
development,
production,
and
installation
of
future
systems
which
are
robust,
reliable
and
of
high
quality,
supportable,
environmentally
sustainable,
and
will
be
highly
responsive
in
meeting
the
needs
of
the
customer/user...
I
feel
that
following
the
guidelines
presented
within
will
lead
to
much
success
in
the
future.
Speaking
recently,
I
outlined
what
I
thought
were
the
requirements
for
the
engineer
of
tomorrow.
I
was
quickly
corrected.
Today’s
engineer
needs
to
be
engineering
with
tomorrow
already
clearly
in
mind.
This
book
encourages
and
leads
today’s
engineer
on
a
journey
to
meet
tomorrow’s
needs.
Systems
thinking
and
asking
the
right
questions
opens
up
far
more
design
options
and
solutions
than
we
first
think.
And
some
of
those
solutions
bring
the
breakthrough
improvements
that
go
far
beyond
the
incremental.
Like
many
books,
this
one
seems
a
little
too
simple
at
first,
but
I
challenge
the
reader
who
feels
that
way
to
jump
to
the
back
and
look
at
the
examples.
Then
go
back
and
read
again.
There
is
real
power
in
its
simple
approach.
Engineers
are
often
caught
up
in
looking
for
the
incremental
improvement,
but
I
would
suggest
that
our
current
challenges
need
more
than
that.
I’d
encourage
all
engineers
to
look
at
this
book.
Dip
into
it
at
first,
then,
come
back
to
it.
There
is
an
elegance
in
the
approach
it
advocates.
I
had
a
design
lecturer
once
who
commented
that
I
had
correctly
answered
the
question,
but
that
I
might
have
done
better
by
asking
a
very
different
question.
I
think
he
would
like
this
book.
Martin
Dwyer,
Director,
Engineering
Practice
and
Continuing
Professional
Development
(CPD),
Engineers
Australia
‘Whole
System Design’ is a comprehensive
resource to support professional,
academic and student engineers
in complex problem solving around
sustainability – an area
of focus recommended by the 2008
Review of Engineering Education
in Australia: ‘Engineers
for the Future’. As the
book shows, engineers and designers
can make a significant difference
to the current global environmental
crisis by reducing environmental
impacts in the design phase of
a wide range of projects.
The
Natural
Edge
Project’s
‘Whole
System
Design’
book
will
provide
a
valuable
resource
that
can
contribute
significantly
to
technical
design
curriculum
in
university
courses
and
professional
training.
I
have
used
a
whole
system
design
approach,
as
is
described
and
demonstrated
in
this
book,
to
improve
resource
efficiency
of
products
and
industrial
processes
often
by
a
factor
of
2
or
better.
An
exciting
consequence
of
applying
a
whole
system
design
approach
is
the
drastically
reduced
need
for
end-of-pipe
treatment,
both
in
the
local
area
and
potentially
in
the
wider
air,
soil
and
waterways.
This
book
is
the
first
free
resource
that
I’ve
seen
that
goes
into
sufficient
detail
for
the
reader
to
comprehensively
grasp
the
concepts
involved
in
a
Whole
System
Design
approach.
A
great
attribute
of
the
book
is
that
it
is
not
simply
a
set
of
a
stand-alone
ideas
–
it
provides
a
strong
foundation
for
embedding
sustainable
design
into
the
popular
design
process
already
taught
to
students
and
professionals
in
Australia
and
around
the
world.
It
is
evident
that
a
great
deal
of
thought
went
into
ensuring
that
the
ideas
in
the
book
could
be
quickly
and
easily
integrated
with
current
practices,
and
ensuring
that
the
ideas
are
universally
applicable
to
all
engineering
and
technical
design
disciplines.
I
commend
The
Natural
Edge
Project
for
their
efforts
and
the
Department
of
the
Environment
and
Water,
Heritage
and
the
Arts
for
supporting
the
project.
Adjunct
Professor
Alan
Pears,
School
of
Global
Studies,
Social
Science
&
Planning,
Royal
Melbourne
Institute
of
Technology,
Australia,
Co-Director
of
Sustainable
Solutions
I
have
gone
through
your
Whole
System
Design
Suite
and
am
greatly
impressed
with
what
has
been
accomplished!
The
material
seems
to
be
VERY
well
organized,
quite
comprehensive,
and
quite
complete.
I
like
the
rather
unique
approach
in
your
material,
addressing
ALL
categories
of
systems
from
a
total
life-cycle
perspective,
which
facilitates
broad
application.
Congratulations
on
producing
an
excellent
package.
It
sounds
like
an
exciting
time
ahead.
It
is
becoming
increasingly
clear
that
climate
change
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