Design Observer :: Join the Discussion http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/ en-us Design Observer Group 2011-06-15T01:09:04-05:00 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0
Thank you for following up.
Agreed on both, the environmental impacts of copper mining, and the overwhelming visual impression these excavators have.
Nice piece in any event]]> Roland http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-15T01:09:04-05:00 Rolling Stone http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-08T09:04:38-05:00
I think it would be a good opportunity to highlight the problems that the article suggest in relation to a mere substitution, instead or drastically reducing our consumption of these virgin materials, and also miniaturizing the scale of the overall systems.

Btw, always a pleasure to read your texts.]]> Emiliano Godoy http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-06T21:30:40-05:00 daniel erwin http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-05T11:03:10-05:00 John Thackara http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-04T11:30:30-05:00 They are truly impressive and gigantic in scale, particularly when moved across public streets from pit to pit.
The claim however that the demand for them was driven by the cost of copper is false.
In Germany, and particularly this "Bagger" was solely used to mine coal ("Braunkohle" to be precise, which is a softer type of coal that does not lend itslef to traditional mining below grade.
Doesn't take away anything from how impressive they are, .... but the price of copper had nothing to do with it.]]> Roland http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-06-02T14:21:01-05:00 Robert Sawyer http://observatory.designobserver.com/feature/from-ecstasy-to-exergy-running-out-of-easy-copper/27668/#comments 2011-05-31T12:09:50-05:00