Search

Insider view

Design for the environment (DfE)

Design for the environment (DfE), ecodesign, is an approach that examines a product, process or building's entire life cycle and proposes changes to how the product or building is designed to minimize its environmental impact during its lifetime. Impacts are reduced by adopting a range of strategies including raw materials (e.g. design for resource conservation), manufacturing (e.g. design for cleaner production), use (e.g. design for energy efficiency), end of life (e.g. design for recycling) and distribution (e.g. design for efficient distribution). Design for sustainability (DfS), or sustainable design, covers the holistic consideration of environmental, social and economic impacts.

Related terms:

• Adaptive buildings
• BREAM
• Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH)
• Construction Waste
• Green roof (or eco-roof or living roof)
• Recycled water
• Secured by design (SBD)
• Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
• Social Inclusion
• Sustainable Sourcing
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS )