DFE workbench:: A CAD integrated DFE tool

Because of the emergent legislation (e.g. WEEE1 and EOLV2), environmental standards (e.g. ISO 14000(3)) and a shift in consumer opinion toward environmentally superior products, there is an increased need for CAD integrated Design for Environment tools to assist the designer in the development of environmentally superior products (ESP). Implementing Design for the Environment practices is an extremely effective strategy, as it is widely believed that 95% of development costs are determined at this stage [1]. Many methodologies and tools have been developed to perform environmental analysis, however, many existing methodologies are inadequately integrated in the design process [2]. This paper address these problems and presents a CAD integrated DFE tool that has been under development in the authors' institutes for the last number of years.