Sunday, June 1, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thesis Research: Scenarios of Urban Life
Here is one of many Urban Scenarios presented in the great book (Sustainable Everyday; Scenarios of Urban Life) This scenario involve neighbours who pull down their fences to create a productive mini-community in which to grow vegetables, bringing in ideas of sustainability , self sufficiency and community. This one particularly caught my eye with a new thought; how these ideas seem so unrealistic and Utopian to us now, but imagine when petrol is so expensive that we cant afford to have fresh produce transported to us, then maybe our neighbours will easily fill this picture that this scenario depicts. It really interesting to imagine how we might behave when situations change to these measures....
Thesis research: Ideas of Sustainable Consumption
Some Thoughts and Ideas…
Now I have immersed my self quite a bit in reading and researching the topic of consumption and sustainability. I have come u with a few ideas as a response to what I have been finding out.
Product Repair System.
1. Weak components are identified through rigorous testing before the product goes on the market. The components are prioritized in terms of their rate of failure, considering a series of pre-determined scenarios of use.
2. Users/ buyers choose a pre-determined scenario which best suits them. This chosen scenario and each of the others will be connected with it’s own programme of repair.
3. Each programme will specify a time within the products lifespan for the user to return the item to the manufacturer for a checkup. Cost included in retail price, and the consumer has the knowledge that what they bought will last its full-predicted lifespan.
When built in to the retail price, the buyer may treat he purchase as more of a commitment, and care for the item more/ less likely become sick of the aesthetic after a time. I’m also exploring ways to bring a closer connection between the consumer and the product. Purchase as a commitment.
Externalising costs of Repair, not disposal.
Out landfills are expensive to run, and who dumps there externalises the costs to taxpayers. This makes disposing of old appliances affordable, to the point where there isn’t enough competition from repair services (UK findings, Cooper, Slower Consumption). So could we externalise the cost of repair services over disposal? People will often consider an affordable and competitive option.
Now I have immersed my self quite a bit in reading and researching the topic of consumption and sustainability. I have come u with a few ideas as a response to what I have been finding out.
Product Repair System.
1. Weak components are identified through rigorous testing before the product goes on the market. The components are prioritized in terms of their rate of failure, considering a series of pre-determined scenarios of use.
2. Users/ buyers choose a pre-determined scenario which best suits them. This chosen scenario and each of the others will be connected with it’s own programme of repair.
3. Each programme will specify a time within the products lifespan for the user to return the item to the manufacturer for a checkup. Cost included in retail price, and the consumer has the knowledge that what they bought will last its full-predicted lifespan.
When built in to the retail price, the buyer may treat he purchase as more of a commitment, and care for the item more/ less likely become sick of the aesthetic after a time. I’m also exploring ways to bring a closer connection between the consumer and the product. Purchase as a commitment.
Externalising costs of Repair, not disposal.
Out landfills are expensive to run, and who dumps there externalises the costs to taxpayers. This makes disposing of old appliances affordable, to the point where there isn’t enough competition from repair services (UK findings, Cooper, Slower Consumption). So could we externalise the cost of repair services over disposal? People will often consider an affordable and competitive option.
Thesis Research: storyofstuff.com
I found this great website from Annie Loenard where she outlines the ‘Story of Stuff’. It gives you a really nice overview of the issues raised in my reading, Slower consumption, by Tim Cooper.
Interesting Reading
This is a book about general sustainability in our daily lives. Really Show how small changes in the numbers make up the whole. To imagine we are all in control…! I’m working very closely with this book. I recommend you to read it!
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