Two products are available:
SOLIDWORKS SustainabilityXpress
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Handles part documents (solid bodies only) and is included in
the core software.
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SOLIDWORKS Sustainability
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Handles parts (solid bodies only) and assemblies. Available with
SOLIDWORKS Premium. Other functionality includes configuration support, expanded
reporting, and expanded environmental impact options.
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To begin working with SustainabilityXpress, open
a part and click one of the following:
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SustainabilityXpress
(Tools toolbar or
Evaluate CommandManager tab)
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To begin working with Sustainability, open a part or assembly and click
one of the following:
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Sustainability
(Tools toolbar
or Evaluate CommandManager tab)
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The application opens in the Task Pane.
Dashboard and Reports
SOLIDWORKS Sustainability provides real-time feedback on
environmental impact factors. Results appear in the Environmental Impact Dashboard,
which updates dynamically with any changes.
You can generate customizable reports to share the results.
Life Cycle Assessment
By integrating
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into the design process, you can see how decisions about
material, manufacturing, and location (where parts are manufactured and where they
are used) influence a design’s environmental impact. You specify various parameters
that SOLIDWORKS Sustainability uses to perform a comprehensive evaluation of all the
steps in a design’s life.
LCA includes:
- Ore extraction from the earth
- Material processing
- Part manufacturing
- Assembly
- Product usage by the end consumer
- End of Life (EOL) – Landfill, recycling, and incineration
- All the transportation that occurs between and within each of
these steps.
Environmental Impact Factors
SOLIDWORKS Sustainability assesses all the life cycle steps based on
your material, manufacturing, and location input. SOLIDWORKS Sustainability distills
the results into environmental impact factors, which it measures and totals.
Carbon Footprint
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A measure of carbon dioxide and equivalents, such as carbon
monoxide and methane, that are released into the atmosphere primarily by
burning fossil fuels.
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Energy Consumption
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All forms of nonrenewable energy consumed over the entire
life cycle of the product.
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Air Acidification
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Acidic emissions, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides,
which eventually lead to acid rain.
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Water Eutrophication
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Contamination of water ecosystems by waste water and
fertilizers, resulting in algae blooms and the eventual death of plant and
animal life.
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