Chapter 1 (Intro to Sustainability and Sustainable Engineering) Flashcards
What were the disadvantages of cleanup technologies or end-of-the-pipe treatment before the 1980s
-Potential incidental releases due to
malfunctioning of treatment facilities;
-Risks and liabilities to human beings and
environment caused by incidental releases and
leakage from waste disposal.
What does waste minimization and pollution prevention mean? What types of methods are included in these efforts?
-Means to avoid and/or eliminate the source of
waste and to reduce the risk to human beings
and the environment.
-Includes source reduction and in-process
recycling.
What are the components of the scope of pollution prevention covered in CHBE 370
-Source reduction
-In-process recyling
-On-site recycling
-Off-site recycling
-On-site treatment
-Off-site treatment
-Secure disposal
What are examples of activities in pollution prevention?
-Materials or feedstock substitution
-Product design or reformulation
-Equipment or process modifications
-Spill and leak prevention
-On-site reuse, recycling or recovery (3R)
-Improved inventory management or
purchasing techniques
-Good operating practices or training
What does industrial ecology examine?
Industrial ecology examines the patterns of energy and materials of a
product or an industrial system (plants, industrial
complexes or communities) with the objective of
prevention or minimization of waste generation.
What does industrial ecology offer?
The field offers a systematic view of industrial operations
and transform industrial systems as close as
possible to a closed-loop model.
What is the benefit of ecological industrial parks?
They enhance economical and environmental
performances by the optimal integration of
mass-energy-information flows in industries.
What is green chemistry?
A field that carries out chemical activities including
chemical design, manufacture, use and disposal –
such that hazardous substances will not be used
and generated.
What is the green chemistry principle of “prevention of waste” about?
It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed.
What is green engineering?
The design,
commercialization and
use of processes and
products, which are
feasible and economical
while minimizing impact
on ecosystems over the
full life cycle.
What is developed following green engineering principles
Clean technologies
What are the benefits of clean technologies
-Uses less resources and causes less environmental damage and is economically competitive.
-They go beyond the pollution prevention and cleaner
production because it recognizes that the product
itself can be the environmental problem.
What is ecological footprint?
Ecological footprint is an estimate of the area of the earth’s
surface which we would need to provide the materials and energy
which we use without drawing on non-renewable resources.
What are the major challenges for sustainable development (World Bank)?
- Potential climate change due to CO2 and other
greenhouse gases;
-Degradation of air, water and land in industrialized
areas;
-Depletion of natural resources, including fresh water,
biomass and minerals;
-Loss of agricultural land due to deforestation and soil
erosion;
-Threatened wildlife habitats, including forests, reefs,
and wetlands;
-Lack of potable water for approximately 1.5 billion people;
-Unsanitary urban conditions (over 2 billion people lack
access to sewers);
-Proliferation of both viral and bacterial infectious diseases;
-Increasing resource needs due to population growth (~90
million per year);
-Social disintegration resulting from displacement of
traditional lifestyles;
-Growing income gaps between rich and poor strata of
society;
-Lack of primary education for about 140 million children
worldwide;
-Extreme poverty (about 3 billion people, or roughly half the
world’s population, are estimated to earn under US$2 per
day).
What is the traditional domain of engineering?
Efficiency
What does equity mean?
Ensuring a better
quality of life for
everyone, now and for
generations to come
What are the three dimensions of sustainability?
- Ecology
- Technology & Economics
- Society
What should all engineering fields do when it comes to sustainability?
All engineering fields should incorporate sustainability
into their practice in order to improve the quality of life
for all.
What is sustainable engineering?
Sustainable engineering is the process of
designing or operating systems such that they use energy
and resources sustainably, meaning that it doesn’t compromise the environment or deplete the materials for future generations.
What types of interactions does sustainable engineering examine?
Sustainable engineering looks at the interactions between
technical, ecological, economic and social aspects
What area of sustainability is part of the microscale Multiscale and Multidisciplinary approaches for sustainability?
Green chemistry
Which occupations fit the microscale and mesoscale for Multiscale and Multidisciplinary approaches of sustainability?
Microscale: Chemists
Mesoscale: Engineers
