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Year 11 - Design and technology

Energy and the impact on designs

Core principles

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will develop core principles knowledge with an explicit focus on exam technique.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to identify how the design of products can impact the environment in terms of energy.

Key Notes

  • Processing iron to become steel uses a huge amount of energy.
  • Transporting products uses energy.
  • Many companies are designing products for a circular economy.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • circular economy: products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste
  • life cycle assessment (LCA): assesses the environmental impact at every stage of a product's lifecycle
  • carbon emissions: volume of carbon produced contributing to global warming
  • obsolete: a product that is no longer used or useful

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Environmental impact only occurs when products are disposed of.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Processing iron to become steel uses a huge amount of energy. Transporting products uses energy.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'circular economy'

products and materials are kept in circulation and do not become waste.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Environmental impact only occurs when products are disposed of. Correction: The circular economy and LCA consider the environmental impact at every single stage of a product's life cycle.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 Design and technology guide library.