Fuller's discussions of energy in his Design Science tend not to dwell on the production costs of the materials, such as steel and alloys, that he favours.
Gordon (1978, p.319) gives rough figures for the energy required to produce a range of materials, measured in gigajoules per ton (i.e. 109 J/ton). Sample figures are:
Gordon also provides (p.322) a table expressing the structural efficiency of various materials in terms of the energy needed to make them, and shows that traditional materials like wood, brick and concrete have enormous advantages over steel and carbon-fibre.
See Energy Accounting.
© Paul Taylor 2001