Creating new models toward Environmental Sustainability

In this week’s lecture, Christopher Tobias ends his presentation with a quote that struck a strong cord with my outlook on change.

You never change anything by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete. -- Buckminster Fuller

In my design course, I learned that when designing products, we shouldn’t design to change peoples’ behaviours, but design to enhance their behaviours.  This is because people have their own set of mental models that they use to understand the world and when their model is disregarded, they would have troubles using the product and would be dissatisfied with the change. Rather, we can create a new model that demonstrates a better model of doing things. At the same time, they can still achieve the same goal.

Through my travels in Asia, I found many great models, at a micro-scale, of household products that I have not seen in North America. These models enhance the old ways products are designed,  they are more resource efficient and can allow the user to complete the same goal with greater satisfaction. 

Figure 1. Toilet

While staying at a hotel in Japan, I found a toilet that had a sink directly above the water tank. I thought this was a clever model of using water. Water can have multiple levels of usage, rather than a one-time use. The water from the tank can be used for washing hands and then reused to flush the toilet. On the left of figure 1 is a typical North American toilet that I have in my home and they use 3-5 gallons per flush and the water is only used to flush the toilet.

Figure 2. Hot Water Tank and Tankless Hot Water System

                When I was at my relative’s home in Hong Kong, I had to flip a switch to boil water before I can take a shower. However, at home, I take hot water for granted. It is always available whenever I adjust my facet for hot water. Though, I do not realize that the hot water tank in my home reheats the same water 24 hours a day even though I may not be using hot water at the moment. The model on the right is a tankless hot water heater that is used commonly in Asia and Europe.  This model demonstrates a more efficient way of using energy only when there is an immediate need. Therefore, energy resources are maximized.

                  

Figure 3. Wall Socket

                Currently in Singapore, every wall socket in my residence has a built-in switch. The switch on the outlet is used to prevent vampire power, which is the constant flow of electricity in a plug that is left in a wall socket even though it is not in use. This example provides us with a new model of looking at electricity and how it can be lost even in situations where we least expected. It provides us with the opportunity to create better models that eliminates the unnecessary lost of energy to better manage our energy resources.

References:

http://inhabitat.com/dual-flush-toilet-is-a-sink-and-greywater-system-in-one

http://www.ecosmarthome.ca/tankless-hot-water-systems.php

http://jeb1.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/product-pros-and-cons-tankless-water-heaters-vs-conventional-storage-tanks/

http://www.moreinspiration.com/article/942-electrical-outlet-with-a-switch