Sustainable Engineering
Engineering for the Environment: The Evolution of Sustainable Engineering
J.A. Nicell, PhD, PEng Professor, Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics Associate Member, McGill School of Environment Associate ViceVice-Principal p (University ( y Services))
Engineering Constraints Engineers g ee s app applyy ttheir e sskillss to so solve ep problems, ob e s, subject to the following traditional constraints:
• • • • •
Lowest cost Shortest time Highest quality Functionality and responsiveness to changing user needs Financial viability
USA Superfund sites
The Bad News... EAST BLOC’S DIRTY
Environmental Crisis
25% of world’s plants in danger of extinction
UN reportt fforecasts t global l b l catastrophe t t h Canada among top of heap in garbage production
Chlorinated Chl i t d water t adds to risk of cancer study says cancer,
U h Oh. Oh E ndocrine D isruptors?
How much longer can we continue contin e this way? a ?
How Did We Get Here? The Solution to Pollution is Dilution
Traditional Industrial Approach pp
Traditional Industrial Approach pp
How o Far a Have a e We e Come? Co e
Stages of Ecological Consciousness
•
Conservation – Emphasize efficient development and use of natural resources
•
Preservation – Preserve natural areas in their natural state and close them to development
•
Protection – Focus on pollution control and dangers to human health
•
Survival – Be concerned with global problems and sustainability
Sustainable S t i bl Development D l t “…development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. needs ” “Our Common Future” World Commission on Economics and Development (1987)
A Strategy gy for Environmental Protection Reduce Reuse Recycle eco e Recover
The Solution to Pollution is Reducin’
The Good News... Blue-box bandits hungry for waste paper
THE STATE OF GARBAGE IN AMERICA 2010 GENERATION: 1.3 tons/cap/year (growing) RECYCLING: 29% (steady) INCINERATION: 7% (steady) LANDFILLING: 64% (steady)
Ontario s ripe beaches Ontario’s smell like success g on to biologists both sides of border
A WHALE OF A SUCCESS
COMPOST IS KEY TO THEME PARK PARK’S S BEAUTY
W ho could relish a sew age burger?
“Industrial Industrial Ecology Ecology” Approach Industrial ecology “requires that an industrial system be viewed not in isolation from its surrounding system, but in concert with them. It is a systems view in which one seeks to optimize the total materials ccycle cle from virgin irgin material material, to finished material, to component, to product, to waste product and to ultimate disposal disposal.” “Industrial Ecology” (1994) B. Allenby and T.E. Graedel
Elements of an Industrial Ecology •
A deep understanding of materials and energy flows and interactions
•
An orientation toward the future
•
A change from linear (open) processes to cyclical (closed) systems
•
An effort to reduce environmental impacts on ecological systems
•
An emphasis on developing industrial systems that emulate efficient and sustainable natural systems
Developing p g an Industrial Ecology gy (Closed Closed--Loop Material & Energy Flows)
• • • • • • •
Each firm attempts to minimize process waste Industrial parks created based on diversity Interconnect firms based on wastewaste-input cycles Cooperation for input sources Local sourcing of external inputs Local market for output Shift energy supply from fossil fuel to solar flow ( (renewable) bl )
A Sustainable Industrial Ecology
A Sustainable Industrial Ecology
Kalundborg g Park Industrial Symbiosis (Denmark)
Engineering Constraints • Lowest cost • Shortest time • Highest quality • Functionality and responsiveness to • •
changing h i user needs d Financial viability S t i bilit – Economic, Sustainability E i Social S i l and d Environmental
The DecisionDecision-Making Process
Define the problem
Generate solutions
Evaluate solutions
Select a solution
Reassess situation Take action
Decision--Making Tools Decision • Technical analyses
• Cost Cost--effectiveness and Cost/benefit / analyses y • Risk analysis • Ethical analysis • Environmental and Social Impact analyses
•
Sustainability and LifeLifeCycle analyses
What Can Engineers g Do? •
Integrate the concepts of sustainable development into the design process
• •
Educate yourself – throughout your future career
•
Look at environmental problems as engineering “opportunities” Think “outside outside the box”: box : develop new approaches
•
Form interdisciplinary teams to tackle complex issues
•
Adopt p an “industrial ecology” gy approach
What Can You Do?
The Principles of “Green” Engineering
•
E i Engineer processes and d products d t holistically, h li ti ll use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.
•
Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting p g human health and wellwell-being. g
• •
Use lifelife-cycle thinking
•
Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as safe and benign as p possible. Minimize depletion of natural resources.
What Can You Do?
The Principles of “Green” Engineering
• •
St i tto preventt waste. Strive t Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, geography aspirations, aspirations and cultures.
•
Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability.
•
Actively engage communities and stakeholders in the development of engineering solutions.
My Challenge to You •
B i taking Begin t ki responsibility ibilit ffor sustainability t i bilit right i ht now, today – make an active choice to make your activities more sustainable
•
Incorporate questions, choices, and decisions about sustainability into your course and project work
•
Bring sustainability considerations into your summer jobs, your partpart-time employment, p y , and into your y career choices.
Send Se d co comments/feedback e ts/ eedbac to to: [email protected] y g
J.A. Nicell, PhD, PEng Professor, Civil Engineering & Applied Mechanics Associate Member, McGill School of Environment Associate ViceVice-Principal p (University ( y Services))
Engineering Constraints Engineers g ee s app applyy ttheir e sskillss to so solve ep problems, ob e s, subject to the following traditional constraints:
• • • • •
Lowest cost Shortest time Highest quality Functionality and responsiveness to changing user needs Financial viability
USA Superfund sites
The Bad News... EAST BLOC’S DIRTY
Environmental Crisis
25% of world’s plants in danger of extinction
UN reportt fforecasts t global l b l catastrophe t t h Canada among top of heap in garbage production
Chlorinated Chl i t d water t adds to risk of cancer study says cancer,
U h Oh. Oh E ndocrine D isruptors?
How much longer can we continue contin e this way? a ?
How Did We Get Here? The Solution to Pollution is Dilution
Traditional Industrial Approach pp
Traditional Industrial Approach pp
How o Far a Have a e We e Come? Co e
Stages of Ecological Consciousness
•
Conservation – Emphasize efficient development and use of natural resources
•
Preservation – Preserve natural areas in their natural state and close them to development
•
Protection – Focus on pollution control and dangers to human health
•
Survival – Be concerned with global problems and sustainability
Sustainable S t i bl Development D l t “…development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. needs ” “Our Common Future” World Commission on Economics and Development (1987)
A Strategy gy for Environmental Protection Reduce Reuse Recycle eco e Recover
The Solution to Pollution is Reducin’
The Good News... Blue-box bandits hungry for waste paper
THE STATE OF GARBAGE IN AMERICA 2010 GENERATION: 1.3 tons/cap/year (growing) RECYCLING: 29% (steady) INCINERATION: 7% (steady) LANDFILLING: 64% (steady)
Ontario s ripe beaches Ontario’s smell like success g on to biologists both sides of border
A WHALE OF A SUCCESS
COMPOST IS KEY TO THEME PARK PARK’S S BEAUTY
W ho could relish a sew age burger?
“Industrial Industrial Ecology Ecology” Approach Industrial ecology “requires that an industrial system be viewed not in isolation from its surrounding system, but in concert with them. It is a systems view in which one seeks to optimize the total materials ccycle cle from virgin irgin material material, to finished material, to component, to product, to waste product and to ultimate disposal disposal.” “Industrial Ecology” (1994) B. Allenby and T.E. Graedel
Elements of an Industrial Ecology •
A deep understanding of materials and energy flows and interactions
•
An orientation toward the future
•
A change from linear (open) processes to cyclical (closed) systems
•
An effort to reduce environmental impacts on ecological systems
•
An emphasis on developing industrial systems that emulate efficient and sustainable natural systems
Developing p g an Industrial Ecology gy (Closed Closed--Loop Material & Energy Flows)
• • • • • • •
Each firm attempts to minimize process waste Industrial parks created based on diversity Interconnect firms based on wastewaste-input cycles Cooperation for input sources Local sourcing of external inputs Local market for output Shift energy supply from fossil fuel to solar flow ( (renewable) bl )
A Sustainable Industrial Ecology
A Sustainable Industrial Ecology
Kalundborg g Park Industrial Symbiosis (Denmark)
Engineering Constraints • Lowest cost • Shortest time • Highest quality • Functionality and responsiveness to • •
changing h i user needs d Financial viability S t i bilit – Economic, Sustainability E i Social S i l and d Environmental
The DecisionDecision-Making Process
Define the problem
Generate solutions
Evaluate solutions
Select a solution
Reassess situation Take action
Decision--Making Tools Decision • Technical analyses
• Cost Cost--effectiveness and Cost/benefit / analyses y • Risk analysis • Ethical analysis • Environmental and Social Impact analyses
•
Sustainability and LifeLifeCycle analyses
What Can Engineers g Do? •
Integrate the concepts of sustainable development into the design process
• •
Educate yourself – throughout your future career
•
Look at environmental problems as engineering “opportunities” Think “outside outside the box”: box : develop new approaches
•
Form interdisciplinary teams to tackle complex issues
•
Adopt p an “industrial ecology” gy approach
What Can You Do?
The Principles of “Green” Engineering
•
E i Engineer processes and d products d t holistically, h li ti ll use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.
•
Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting p g human health and wellwell-being. g
• •
Use lifelife-cycle thinking
•
Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as safe and benign as p possible. Minimize depletion of natural resources.
What Can You Do?
The Principles of “Green” Engineering
• •
St i tto preventt waste. Strive t Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, geography aspirations, aspirations and cultures.
•
Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability.
•
Actively engage communities and stakeholders in the development of engineering solutions.
My Challenge to You •
B i taking Begin t ki responsibility ibilit ffor sustainability t i bilit right i ht now, today – make an active choice to make your activities more sustainable
•
Incorporate questions, choices, and decisions about sustainability into your course and project work
•
Bring sustainability considerations into your summer jobs, your partpart-time employment, p y , and into your y career choices.
Send Se d co comments/feedback e ts/ eedbac to to: [email protected] y g
