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Product development is typically what brings companies forward. It often stems from customer insights or from innovation in response to market demand, possibly driven by advancements in areas like AI, which can significantly impact a company’s operation. When taking the time to deeply reflect, things can be considered from various perspectives. Our expert, Tony Olsson, recently found time to reflect upon his work while preparing for summer vacation. This blog post captures his thoughts on product development and sustainable acoustics.
As I write this, the Swedish summer vacation is within reach and the office gets quieter every day. The newfound silence allows for deeper reflections. In Sweden, we often discuss the weather – we actually love to talk about the weather – but lately, these conversations have shifted towards climate. Climate change in particular. This shift makes it almost obligatory to consider our global environmental responsibility and resource efficiency in everything we do.
In my work in acoustics, I calculate noise levels and design attenuators for various designs of indoor climate solutions. Our products aim to eliminate noise in both indoor and outdoor environments and by that ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor atmosphere. My thoughts wander, how can we create a sustainable acoustic environment that benefit both people and the planet?
Human environmental acoustics
Everyone can identify a sound they find particularly beautiful, and conversely, we all know how annoying certain sounds can be. The latter is what is usually called noise. Traffic outside the window is a common annoyance, and unfortunately, sounds from ventilation systems can fall into this category. Even when it is not entirely justified. Research shows that a quiet and pleasant sound environment helps people relax, focus better and sleep well, while excessive noise causes stress and fatigue, it even affects health. This makes it clear that acoustic design in buildings is crucial.
Imagine working or living in an environment where the sounds are always pleasant, never too loud or too disturbing. A peaceful environment where everyone can be productive and the soundscape fulfils the purpose of the space. This is an optimal situation and could possibly be called human sustainable acoustics. However, this only considers the human ear and our perception of sound, what about the environmental sustainability of acoustics?
Environmental sustainability of acoustics
Environmental sustainability involves the responsible way of managing and preserving natural resources to ensure healthy and balanced ecosystems that can support life on Earth, today and tomorrow. Simply put, environmental sustainability is focusing on practices that minimise environmental impact.
From a product development perspective, one effective approach to environmental sustainability is to reduce the use of materials with a high global warming potential (GWP) and incorporate as much reused material as possible. What to look for in acoustics?
Steel. Steel has a high GWP but can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties. Using recycled steel in products for ventilation, heating and cooling (HVAC), such as sound attenuators, significantly reduces the environmental footprint. Recycled steel emits far less greenhouse gases than virgin steel, as the recycling process requires much less energy than producing new steel. Acoustic products have a long lifespan, and the durability of recycled steel ensures that they last as long as products made from virgin steel.
Insulation. Stone wool, often made from volcanic rock, is frequently used for insulation in acoustics products because of its excellent sound absorption properties, non-combustibility and resistance to moisture, mould and pests. Stone wool can be recycled and repurposed which makes it an environmentally sustainable choice. As suppliers continue to improve the energy efficiency of stone wool production, it actually turns out to be an even further sustainable option.
An indoor environment free from disturbing noise represents human sustainable acoustics while the use of low GWP materials represents environmental sustainable acoustics. I believe the complementing factor is strategic sustainable acoustics.
Strategic sustainable acoustics
It is possible to create a good acoustic climate without being overly detailed. However, there are significant benefits in the perspective of sustainability, if product selections are made strategically, well-planned and with a long-term perspective. In this context, the following is to consider
Optimised indoor climate solutions. Well-designed indoor climate solutions reduce noise levels significantly, which is why it is recommended to use calculation software to strategically select the most optimal products. Software tools are not only for the perfect choice, they can also help to decide on the correct number of products for the project. Strategic product choices is also to select products by making considerations to GWP data or environmental product declarations (EPDs) and that way contribute to a sustainable acoustic environment.
Solutions designed for deconstruction. Another strategic measure is to create indoor climate solutions, and select products, with disassembly in mind. Products designed and developed for “after-life” allow materials to be easily recovered and reused, which lessen waste in the future and minimise the need for virgin materials.
This was the third part of what my reasoning about sustainable acoustics ended up in – a strategic approach supports sustainable acoustics.
From here on
The pursuit of sustainable acoustics is a continuous journey of product development, innovation and responsibility with focus on the human ear, resourcefulness and strategic decision making. To strive for a comfortable and productive sound environment inside, embracing products with recycled materials and implementing strategic design practices supports the principle of sustainable acoustics. As I conclude my reflections, I believe it is crucial to consider sustainable acoustics at every step of the process, from producer to designer, installer and property owner. Sustainability should be the foundation of acoustic design.
By the time this blog is published, I will be back in the office to continue our product development with sustainable acoustics as top of mind. While I am in the midst of that, get familiar with our CLA, a pioneering product using low GWP steel, and learn more about our RE:3 concept which gathers our sustainability practices within re:duce, re:use and re:vitalise. Further interesting links: EPDs and our Acoustic Design calculation software.
