Practice IB Design Technology (DT) Topic 8.4 Sustainable Innovation with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 8.4 Sustainable Innovation and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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Elon Musk, see Figure 1, is an entrepreneur, engineer, innovator and the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla. This company is attempting to design and manufacture products that promote sustainable consumption.
The Tesla Powerwall 2 is a lithium-ion battery pack that can be attached to the wall and provides electricity for household use. Electricity is generated by solar panels, see Figure 2, that are connected to the Powerwall 2. When there is no sunlight the electricity stored in the Powerwall 2 can be used to provide the electricity to run lighting or appliances.
The Powerwall 2 is a product that is entering the market and has the potential to ease the world’s transition into the use of sustainable energy.
Outline how the Powerwall 2 can support the concept of ethical consumerism.
List two methods of government intervention that could encourage the adoption of sustainable innovation such as the Powerwall 2.
Compare the consumer attitudes and behaviours towards the Powerwall 2 from the perspective of an eco-champion and that of an eco-phobe.
The table below outlines two distinct approaches for achieving sustainable innovation.
| Strategy | Implementation Example |
|---|---|
| Strategy X | A national government introduces a tax on carbon-intensive manufacturing processes and provides subsidies for renewable energy infrastructure. |
| Strategy Y | A local community group organizes a neighborhood composting program and a shared tool library to reduce household waste. |
Which term best describes Strategy X?
A new public refill system is being funded by the local council to reduce single-use plastic waste from bottled drinks. The proposed product is a solar-powered smart refill station that dispenses still or sparkling water into reusable bottles.
The manufacturer claims the station is an example of sustainable innovation because it:
Early pilot testing found two problems:
A simplified layout of the station’s internal modules is shown below.
The designer proposes a revised internal arrangement using a slide-out cassette that groups the battery, charge controller, and power electronics into a removable module, and a separate front-access filter drawer, shown below.
Using examples from the case, outline one feature that makes the refill station an example of sustainable innovation.
List two principles of sustainable innovation being applied to this product.
Outline how an independent organisation could verify the station’s sustainability claims before full rollout.
Explain how the revised modular layout could reduce environmental impact over the station’s life.
Soar Electric Scooter Rental
“Scooter sharing” has become popular in cities all over the world. E-scooters are being promoted as a sustainable mode of transport by providing an alternative to cars. One e-scooter company, Soar, offers e-scooters in several cities that can be easily rented via a smartphone app. A rider uses the Soar app to locate the nearest e-scooter, see Figure 1.
Figure 1: A representation of the Soar smartphone app
Soar purchased their first-generation e-scooters from manufacturer Xiomani for US$550 each. To break even an e-scooter needs to be used five times a day for five months. As the Soar smartphone app tracks battery charge, location and usage, it was found that many of these Xiomani scooters were lasting less than two months. Many were simply discarded, see Figure 2.
Figure 2: Discarded e-scooters
Outline one way how partnerships between city authorities and e-scooter companies could encourage sustainable innovation.
Outline one reason why Soar uses just-in-case (JIC) production for their Soar e-scooter.
Outline one way how the use of statistical process control can lead to improvements in the design of the Soar e-scooter.
Explain why the first-generation Soar e-scooters cannot be considered to be a sustainable design.
A developed nation reports that over a ten-year period, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by , while its total greenhouse gas emissions fell by .
Which of the following concepts is demonstrated by this data?