Sustainable engineering : principles and practice

"Drawing on multidisciplinary perspectives from engineering, economics, business, science, and human behavior, this text presents an unrivalled introduction to how engineering practice can contribute to sustainable development. Varied approaches for assessing the sustainability of engineering and other human activities are presented in detail, and potential solutions to meet key challenges are proposed, with an emphasis on those that require engineering skills. Each concept and approach is supported by mathematical representation, solved problems, real-world examples, and self-study exercises. Topics covered range from introductory material on the nature of sustainability, to more advanced approaches for assessment and design. Prerequisites for each chapter are clearly explained so the text can be adapted to meet the needs of students from a range of backgrounds. Software tutorials, project statements and solutions, lecture slides, and a solutions manual accompany the book online, making this an invaluable resource for courses in sustainable engineering, as well as a useful reference for industry practitioners." -- Provided by publisher Contents Preface PART I Introduction and Motivation 1 The Basis of Human Well-Being 1.1 Trends in Human Development 1.2 What Does Human Well-Being Depend On? 1.3 Ecosystem Goods and Services 1.4 What about Saving the Planet? 1.5 Summary 1.6 Review Questions References 2 Status of Ecosystem Goods and Services 2.1 Fuels 2.2 Materials 2.3 Water 2.4 Food 2.5 Soil 2.6 Air Quality Regulation 2.7 Climate Regulation 2.8 Water Quality Regulation 2.9 Net Primary Productivity 2.10 Pollination 2.11 Biodiversity 2.12 Overall Status 2.13 Summary 2.14 Review Questions References 3 Sustainability: Definitions and Challenges 3.1 Definitions 3.2 Nature of Environmental Problems 3.2.1 Energy-Efficient Lighting 3.2.2 Sustainable Transportation 3.3 Nature of the Sustainability Challenge 3.3.1 Need for Sustainable Engineering 3.3.2 Wicked Nature of Sustainability 3.4 Requirements for Sustainability 3.5 Approaches Toward Sustainable Engineering 3.6 Summary 3.7 Review Questions References PART II Reasons for Unsustainability 4 Economics and the Environment 4.1 The Free Market Economy 4.2 Environmental Externalities 4.3 Discounting and Benefit–Cost Analysis 4.4 Substitutability 4.5 A Scientific View of the Economy 4.6 Summary 4.7 Review Questions References 5 Business and the Environment 5.1 Pre-1980s: Environmental Protection as a Threat 5.2 Post-1980s: Environmental Protection as an Opportunity 5.3 Modern View: Corporate Sustainability 5.4 The Future of Corporate Sustainability, by Joseph Fiksel 5.5 Summary 5.6 Review Questions References 6 Science, Engineering, and the Environment 6.1 The Attitude 6.2 The Approach 6.2.1 Reductionism 6.2.2 Holism 6.3 The Outcome 6.4 Summary 6.5 Review Questions References 7 Society and the Environment 7.1 Cultural Narrative 7.2 Ecological Literacy 7.3 Political Aspects 7.4 Ethics, Morals, and Religion 7.5 Summary 7.6 Review Questions References PART III Sustainability Assessment 8 Goal Definition and Scope 8.1 Nature of Life Cycle Networks 8.2 Steps in Assessing Life Cycle Networks 8.3 Goal Definition and Scope 8.3.1 Functional Unit 8.3.2 Life Cycle Boundary 8.4 Summary 8.5 Review Questions References 9 Inventory Analysis 9.1 Sources of Data 9.2 Calculations 9.3 Uncertainty 9.4 Summary 9.5 Review Questions References 10 Mathematical Framework 10.1 Process Network Analysis 10.1.1 Mathematical Framework 10.1.2 Allocation Methods 10.2 Input–Output Analysis 10.2.1 Mathematical Framework 10.2.2 Environmentally Extended Input–Output Models 10.3 Hybrid Models 10.4 Summary 10.5 Review Questions References 11 Footprint Assessment 11.1 Carbon Footprint 11.2 Water Footprint 11.3 Characteristics of Footprint Methods 11.4 Review Questions References 12 Energy and Material Flow Analysis 12.1 Energy Analysis 12.2 Energy Analysis of Processes 12.3 Net Energy Analysis 12.4 Material Flow Analysis 12.5 Summary 12.6 Review Questions References 13 Exergy Analysis 13.1 Concept of Exergy 13.2 Exergy Flow in Systems 13.3 Exergetic Assessment 13.3.1 Improving Efficiency 13.3.2 Exergy Analysis of Technologies 13.3.3 Exergy Analysis of Economies 13.4 Summary 13.5 Review Questions References 14 Cumulative Exergy Consumption and Emergy Analysis 14.1 Cumulative Exergy 14.2 Aggregation and Resource Quality 14.3 Exergy Flow in Ecological and Economic Systems 14.4 Emergy Analysis 14.4.1 Emergy of Natural Resources 14.4.2 Emergy Algebra 14.4.3 Aggregate Metrics 14.5 Summary 14.6 Review Questions References 15 Life Cycle Impact Assessment 15.1 Steps in Life Cycle Impact Assessment 15.1.1 Classification into Impact Categories 15.1.2 Characterization into Common Units 15.1.3 Normalization and Weighting 15.1.4 End-Point Assessment 15.2 Software for Sustainability Assessment 15.3 Summary 15.4 Review Questions References 16 Ecosystem Services in Sustainability Assessment 16.1 Synergies Between Human and Natural Systems 16.2 Ecosystem Services in Life Cycle Assessment 16.2.1 Goal and Scope Definition 16.2.2 Inventory Analysis 16.2.3 Impact Assessment 16.2.4 Interpretation and Improvement 16.3 Computational Structure 16.4 Satisfying the Requirements for Sustainability 16.5 Summary 16.6 Review Questions References PART IV Solutions for Sustainability 17 Designing Sustainable Processes and Products 17.1 Techno-Economic Analysis and Design 17.1.1 Costs and Earnings 17.1.2 Time Value of Money 17.1.3 Profitability Metrics 17.2 Eco-Efficiency 17.3 Process and Product Design 17.3.1 Evolution of Engineering Design 17.3.2 Decisions with Multiple Objectives 17.3.3 Heuristic Design 17.4 Shortcomings 17.5 Summary 17.6 Review Questions References 18 Ecosystem Ecology 18.1 Characteristics of Ecosystems 18.2 Material Cycles and Energetics 18.2.1 Food Web 18.2.2 Biogeochemical Cycles 18.2.3 Energy Transformation 18.3 Dynamics of Ecosystems 18.3.1 Nature of Ecosystem Dynamics 18.3.2 Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics 18.4 Summary 18.5 Review Questions References 19 Industrial Symbiosis and the Circular Economy 19.1 Biomimetic Product Innovation 19.2 Industrial Symbiosis 19.3 The Circular Economy 19.4 Summary 19.5 Review Questions References 20 Ecosystems in Engineering 20.1 Traditional Ecological Knowledge 20.2 Nature-Based Solutions 20.2.1 Ecological Engineering 20.2.2 Green Infrastructure 20.3 Techno-Ecological Synergy 20.3.1 Motivation 20.3.2 Approach 20.4 Summary 20.5 Review Questions References 21 Economic Policies 21.1 Internalizing Externalities 21.1.1 Non-Market-Based Policies 21.1.2 Market-Based Policies 21.2 Inclusive Wealth 21.3 Summary 21.4 Review Questions References 22 Societal Development 22.1 Individual Action 22.2 Belief and Value Systems 22.3 Worldviews and Future Scenarios 22.3.1 Worldviews: Technological Optimist or Skeptic? 22.3.2 Toward a Good Anthropocene 22.4 Summary 22.5 Review Questions References Index This comprehensive text takes a multidisciplinary approach to explore the challenges of sustainable development and how engineering practice can contribute to assessing and developing solutions. Worked examples, exercises, and applications are included, and software tutorials, lecture slides, and a solutions manual are available online.