Wildfires in Greece, Turkey and California have been burning out of control this summer due to global warming. There were even forest fires near the artic circle. Most people now understand their own carbon footprint is causing global warming. Consumers need to buy food, heat their homes, and buy products, but how can they do this and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint? By using Eco Product Design methods, we can create products that have a lower carbon footprint and enable consumers to use less energy and switch over to a more sustainable lifestyle.
For example let’s reinvent the BBQ to save energy and encourage people to eat less meat. The lid of the BBQ should be insulated and it could have a label on promoting meat free alternatives. It should burn charcoal made from local sustainable forests, or burn seasoned off cuts from local trees. Some consumers may prefer a smoke free BBQ to reduce air born particulates, in which case food could be cooked on an electric hot plate. Another smoke free option is to burn bioethanol to heat the hotplate. It is possible to cook using methane gas which is captured from compost heap. This would require a methane compost capture kit connected to a BBQ. The legs, chassis and handle could be made from wood, plastic, aluminium or steel. Manufacturing and recycling wood causes the least Greenhouse Gas Emmisions but it might rot unless it was cedar. The BBQ should be flat packed to reduce shipping emmisions and to enable it to be dismantled for recycling.
One example of an electric BBQ with a wood pellet smoker is the Ninja Woodfire Pro XL. This would appeal to consumers wanting to cook outside with friends while reducing their carbon footprint.
Click the eco design tab to learn about eco product design.
Click the extinction tab to learn about climate change.
Click the extinction tab to learn about climate change.