Taking viewers to the crossroads of aesthetic, functional, and sustainability issues, this program looks at aspects of design that can have negative ecological consequences. Students learn about eco-friendly design and the use of life-cycle assessments by architects and product designers to ensure that their work has minimal environmental impact. Sustainable design techniques are investigated through case studies of a "zero energy" home that makes use of spatial and solar-heating innovations, and of a specially insulated tea kettle that demonstrates further innovative solutions to energy consumption problems.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on March 15, 2011. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Environmental Issues that Affect Design (4:43) -- Positive and Negative Impacts of Design (4:46) -- Defining a Life Cycle Assessment (4:44) -- What is Sustainable Design? (3:49) -- Sustainable Design in Practice (5:14) -- Conclusion (0:59) -- Credits: Design and the Environment (0:38).