CP

The design can be found here: []
 * __ Sustainability Analysis of the “Circuit protection for outdoor LED lighting” design: __**

This design allows LEDs to work for long periods of time in outdoor locations. By implementing several protection features, LEDs used outdoors can still have a low maintenance cost, long life, and use very little power. [1] These features help improve the design’s sustainability. However several problems with this design hinder sustainability. Examining the four “E”s of sustainability and the green engineering design principles, can demonstrate the overall sustainability of this design.

The design consumes a significantly less amount of power than traditional mercury vapor or other outdoor lights. [1] This helps reduce the carbon footprint of outdoor LED lighting while using it. However, manufacturing the design and all of the various components requires a lot of energy (more than for a traditional outdoor light). This drawback requires consideration when examining sustainability. Also the design uses 120V AC line power which could come from various sources. As technology improves, LEDs and solar cells will become more efficient and this design could evolve to only use solar energy. This would significantly improve the design’s sustainability because the only energy used would come from the initial manufacturing of the design and components.
 * __The four “E”s of sustainability:__**
 * 1. Energy:**

The manufacturing of components used in this design can cause harm to the surrounding environment and the world’s environment. The manufacturing of electronics generates lots of waste products and CO2. To help with this problem, Intel made a new “Green” processing plant. This new plant consists of environmentally friendly materials and recycles waste, reuses water, and efficiently uses energy. [2] Also, IBM has created a process that allows them to recycle scrap silicon for use in solar cells. [3] Intel and IBM’s solutions help reduce pollution and waste. In addition to the problems with the production of these components, another problem exists when disposing of them later. These electronic components require carefully refurbishing or recycling to recover different metals or minerals and also to remove toxic chemicals. [4]
 * 2. Environment:**

This LED lighting design has long lasting and low maintenance cost characteristics. However the initial purchasing of LED lighting can require an expensive investment. [1] This comes partly from the cost of manufacturing and the cost of parts. The lowering of this initial cost can result if electronic manufacturers use buildings similar to Intel’s new processing plant. Their building saves money on energy and water bills. Intel spent $23M to “green up” various buildings and has saved $38M after doing so. [2] Electronic manufacturing companies could emulate Intel and save millions of dollars and help promote sustainability by offering more affordable products.
 * 3. Economics:**

A city or state purchasing a product that uses this design will have to use a substantial amount of tax dollars to do it which may cause political controversy. Once this lighting design fails or becomes outdated, future generations and the city, state, and/or country will have to deal with this and other electronic waste. Also the production of the electronic components used in this design benefit many foreign countries that make them. This has an impact on the entire world’s economy.
 * 4. Equity:**

A company manufacturing this design or components used in it (LEDs, other semiconductors, Fuses, etc) should follow the following principles to help improve sustainability.
 * __The green engineering design principles: [5]__**

You can intervene in a system 9 different places in order to improve it. [6] The various manufacturers should intervene in their existing systems to make the whole process more sustainable.
 * 1.** “Engineer processes and products holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.”

All manufacturers can help protect the ecosystem and human health by emulating what the Ford Motor Company did. They overhauled their production facility to help the ecosystem and make their workers happier. [7]
 * 2.** “Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting human health and well-being.”

The manufacturing, use, and recycling of the components used in the design present important topics to consider for the design’s life-cycle. Figuring out how to minimize waste products and how to recycle old parts will help make the process more sustainable. Nike did this when they successfully designed a new type of shoe. [7]
 * 3.** “Use life-cycle thinking in all engineering activities.”

The manufacturing of electronics requires the use of toxic chemicals and materials. Manufacturers must take special care to protect the surrounding environment as well as their own employees. Also in the future, refurbishing or recycling these electronics will require careful handling.
 * 4.** “Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently safe and benign as possible.”

IBM’s process of recycling scrap silicon [3] and the recycling of “E-Waste” [4] helps reduce the depletion of natural resources. Electronic manufacturers using similar processes like the one IBM uses could produce LEDs and other system components. Also making the design easy to recycle would help too.
 * 5.** “Minimize depletion of natural resources.”

Intel’s new processing plant presents electronics manufacturers with a good role model to follow. With this building, Intel tries to recycle waste and help prevent it. [2]
 * 6.** “Strive to prevent waste.”

When the Ford Motor Company overhauled its production facility, it worked with the local geography and made the place good for the environment and the surrounding people. [7] Electronics manufacturing facilities all over the world can do the same thing.
 * 7.** “Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, aspirations, and cultures.”

Engineers and manufacturers need to invest in making more efficient LEDs, solar cells, and other components to help improve this and other designs.
 * 8.** “Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate, and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability.”

If Intel, IBM, other companies, and we work together, we can find better solutions for dealing with waste, pollution, and recycling of electronic components. Community involvement in sustainability will help us and future generations.
 * 9.** “Actively engage communities and stakeholders in development of engineering solutions.”

1. Phillip Havens, Littelfuse. (2010, March 3). Circuit protection for outdoor LED lighting [Online]. Available: []. [Accessed: April 26, 2011] 2. S. Gaudin, “Intel's New 45nm Penryn Plant Goes Green,” Computerworld, October 30, 2007. Available: []. [Accessed: April 26, 2011] 3. Author Unknown, “IBM Unveils New Wafer Solar Power Recycling Process,” Energy Policy TV - Solar Channel, Available: []. [Accessed: November 21, 2009] 4. Jeff Johnson, “A Tsunami of Electronic Waste,” Chemical & Engineering News, vol. 86 no. 21, 2008, pp. 32-33, Available: []. [Accessed: April 26, 2011] 5. D. Braun, “SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT,” Available: [|http://courseware.ee.calpoly.edu/~dbraun/courses/ee413/SustainabilityAnalysis.html]. [Accessed: April 26, 2011] 6. D. Meadows, “Places to Intervene in a System,” Whole Earth, Winter, 1997, pp. 78-84, Available: []. [Accessed: April 26, 2011] 7. C. Shaw, “Waste = Food,” Available: []. [Accessed: April 26, 2011]
 * __References:__**