Addressing Resource Depletion and Promoting Sustainability
- Non-renewable resources are running out (this is not fake news btw)
- So designers need to find innovative solutions to meet basic human needs
- It makes sense to focus on renewable and sustainable resources to address this challenge
Resource management and sustainable production carefully consider three key issues: consumption of raw materials, consumption of energy, and production of waste.
Understanding Resource Types
Renewable Resources
Definition
Renewable resources
Resource that can be replaced (or replenished) over time, or does not abate at all
- Solar Energy – Captured from the sun using solar panels, providing an unlimited source of power.
- Wind Energy – Generated by wind turbines converting wind into electricity.
- Hydropower – Uses flowing water (rivers, dams) to produce energy.
- Geothermal Energy – Harnesses heat from within the Earth for electricity and heating.
- Biomass – Organic materials like wood, crop waste, and algae used for energy.
- Tidal & Wave Energy – Power generated by ocean tides and waves
- Wood/Biomass Misconception – While biomass (wood, crops, etc.) is technically renewable, it depends on how it's managed. If trees are cut down faster than they can regrow, or if forests are destroyed without replanting, then wood is no longer a sustainable, renewable resource.
- Freshwater Misconception – Water is part of the natural cycle, but over-extraction and pollution can make it a non-renewable resource in certain regions.
- Biofuels Misconception – While biofuels come from renewable crops, their large-scale production can lead to deforestation and resource depletion, making them unsustainable in some cases.
Renewable resources often require careful management to ensure sustainability. For example, timber must be replanted to maintain supply.
Non-Renewable Resources
Definition
Non-renewable Resources
Resources that are extracted and used at rate greater than are replaced
- Fossil Fuels – Includes coal, oil, and natural gas, formed over millions of years from decomposed organic matter.
- Nuclear Fuels – Uranium and plutonium used in nuclear reactors; these elements are finite and require mining.
- Metals & Minerals – Resources like gold, silver, copper, and aluminum, which take millions of years to form.
- Rare Earth Elements – Crucial for electronics (e.g., lithium, neodymium) but found in limited quantities and difficult to extract.
- Aluminum Misconception – While aluminum itself is non-renewable, it is highly recyclable. Proper recycling can make it functionally sustainable.
- Groundwater Misconception – Deep underground aquifers can take thousands of years to replenish, making them non-renewable in many cases. However, some shallow water sources can be renewable if properly managed.
- Plastic Misconception – Plastic is made from petroleum (a non-renewable fossil fuel), but bioplastics (from plant materials) are potentially renewable if sustainably sourced.
Non-renewable resources are also called finite resources because they are limitedin quantity.
Comparison of Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
| Aspect | Renewable Resources | Non-Renewable Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Inexhaustible or replenishable | Fixed and limited quantities |
| Impact | Less carbon emissions | More carbon emissions |
| Cost | More expensive to implement | Less expensive to implement |
| Examples | Hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, wind, tidal | Coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear |
Reserves and whether or not they're worth extracting
Definition
Reserves
Reserves are proven resources that can be economically and technically extracted.
- Reserves are resources that you can extract economically
- It can be the case that some reserves exist but it makes no sense to extract them because the cost to do so exceeds the value you get when sold
Economically Viable Reserves (Currently Extractable)
- Oil Reserves in Saudi Arabia – Large, easily accessible oil fields with well-developed infrastructure, making extraction profitable.
- Copper Mines in Chile – Chile has some of the richest copper deposits, making mining highly cost-effective.
- Gold Mines in South Africa – High concentrations of gold allow for profitable extraction despite deep mining operations.
- Natural Gas in the United States (Shale Gas - Permian Basin) – Advancements in fracking technology have made shale gas extraction cost-effective.
- Lithium Reserves in Australia – The world’s leading lithium producer with efficient extraction processes for battery production.
Non-Economically Viable Reserves (Currently Too Costly or Difficult to Extract)
- Oil in Arctic Reserves – Harsh climate, remote locations, and environmental concerns make extraction expensive and controversial.
- Deep-Sea Manganese Nodules (Pacific Ocean Floor) – Rich in valuable metals like nickel and cobalt, but extraction technology is not yet cost-effective.
- Tar Sands in Venezuela – Large reserves of heavy crude oil, but high extraction costs and lack of refining infrastructure make it unprofitable.
- Helium in the Earth’s Crust – Found in trace amounts and often escapes before it can be collected, making large-scale extraction uneconomical.
- Uranium in Seawater – The ocean contains vast amounts of uranium, but current extraction methods are too expensive and inefficient.
