Download - Sustainability Considerations
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Sustainability Considerations
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“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
- Our Common Future (1987)
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Global Demand
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Population by country: Percentage of World GDP (5 largest)
Historical GDP Per Capita (inflation adj.) • GDP discrepancy between US and 4 largest countries• Acceleration of Chinese growth• Growth fueled by resource demand
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The Needs of the World• World population and resource demand are
increasing– Presents largest obstacle to sustainability
• Carrying capacity– The maximum number of people the Earth can support– UN projects 10 billion by 2100
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GDP and Health
• Huge increase of life expectancy with first $10,000 of GDP growth– This provides the basics of life (food, water, sanitation etc.)– Similar trend with decrease in infant mortality
• Ideally, entire globe should consume at least at this minimum level
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Historical Life Expectancy and infant mortality in US
Life Expectancy and infant mortality as a function of GDP in US
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Failed States and Sustainability• Lack of governmental control spawns
unsustainable practices by population– High population growth– Minimal economic growth– Decreased interest in environmental protection
• Threaten stability and sustainability of entire region– Hotspots for terrorism and other radical activity
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Resource Demand• World GDP growing at
3% per year and population at 1%– more wealth per person
• Coinciding increase in resource demand
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Energy Consumption
• US accounts for 5% of population, but 20% of energy consumption
• China presents largest potential for future demand per capita increase
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Water Demand
• Water use tends to increase with income– Tied to GDP growth
• Water shortage seen as a probable cause of future conflict– Essential to food
production and industry
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Measures of Sustainability• Include:
– Ecological footprint– Energy footprint– CO2
• Calculations are more of an estimate– Give a sense of how
resource intensive your lifestyle is
• Infrastructure tied to most aspects of ecological footprint
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Engineering Sustainability
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Sustainable Design• Minimizing environmental
impact is not inherently sustainable design
• Triple bottom line– Include environmental and social
well-being when calculating the value of a project or product
– Mirrors three pillars of sustainability• Economic, environmental, social
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Green BuildingsCharacteristics • Use renewable energy• Reduce runoff• Use less land• Closer to city center• Use local materials• Use recycled materials• Conserve water• Natural lighting• Personal climate controls
• Encourage electric vehicle use
• Improved indoor air quality
• Use sustainable materials (e.g. bamboo)
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Green Roofs• Long popular in northern
Europe• Gaining popularity in the
US• Varying degrees of
complexity• Benefits:
– Improved heat insulation– Reducing urban heat island– Decrease runoff– Provide natural habitats– Sound insulation
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Green Retrofitting• The Empire State
Building to undergo $20-million-dollar retrofit
• 40% reduction in energy use expected
• $4-million-dollar per year estimated savings– short payback period for
project
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LEED Certification• Established in 2000 by US
Green Building Council • Four tiers of achievement
– “certified”, silver, gold, platinum
• Five point categories– Sustainable sites– Water efficiency– Energy and atmosphere– Materials and resources– Indoor environmental
quality
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Water Reuse• Much of current water use practices deplete
aquifers over time– Wastewater left to overland runoff
• Does not recharge the aquifer
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• Definition: the practice of treating wastewater to achieve standards required for drinking water
• Savings significantly reduce strain on aquifers– Especially if rate of consumption is reduced below
the recharge rate of aquifer
Water Reuse Cont.
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Conclusion• Clearly, we cannot continue to consume resources at
our current rate– underdeveloped nations are rapidly modernizing
• Environment cannot handle this new strain
• To maintain our current standards of living while increasing our sustainability, we need to turn to engineering
• Definition and goals of sustainable design will be constantly changing, however, sustainability should continue to be an engineer’s goal