In the realm of sustainable development, mechanical engineers are playing a role that will greatly impact our society as a whole. As a country, we invest a huge amount of our budget in the defense industry and yet we ignore the waste, pollution and hazards that exist in the energy sector. It is time for us to start to make priorities.
In order to be successful, sustainability in engineering must be incorporated into all facets of the organization. Mechanical engineers should have a say in the strategic decisions regarding the materials that will be used in the building. The strategic decisions must involve waste management, environmental assessment and economic growth.
Waste Management, also known as the elimination of waste or the management of waste, is an essential component of sustainability in mechanical engineering. Without this, there cannot be any economic development. This includes not only the proper handling and disposal of construction waste such as concrete and asbestos but the elimination of all hazardous waste including all contaminants from the waste product. A big part of this waste goes down the drain without being disposed of properly. Some gets recycled and some is left where it will end up polluting the soil and potentially causing major pollution problems. Through proper management, environmental assessment can be done and the environmental consequences can be prevented.
Environmental assessment is another component of sustainability in engineering. There are many different environmental impacts that are considered when designing a mechanical system. Engineers must incorporate the eco-effects of their design into the overall scheme of sustainability. For example, designing for energy sustainability requires the use of renewable energy resources and the reduction or elimination of wasteful practices such as the burning of fossil fuels.
Since there are currently limited sources of non-renewable energy and since the Earth's current supply is becoming depletable, sustainability in engineering requires that the methods of operation should be efficient enough to provide for the human needs of the future generation. The methods of operation should also take into consideration the availability of the available resources. Some sustainability issues involve the use of the available resources in the most economical way possible, while others include the use of the available resources in a manner that will cause minimal harm to the environment. These two kinds of practices are known as active and passive sustainability.
Active sustainability refers to the use of engineering and designing practices that actually make use of available resources. This engineering and designing practice is called active micro-site control. Active micro-site control involves planning and design techniques that allow engineers and technicians to design structures and other equipment in such a way that they do not damage the environment in any way. Active site control is an important component of sustainability in mechanical engineering. Another active sustainability practice is active maintenance. Maintaining a facility involves ensuring that all equipment, machinery, structures and machineries are maintained in good condition so that they continue to work in optimal conditions.
On the other hand, passive sustainability refers to the practice of using materials that will not cause economic loss or environmental harm. Materials that are considered passive include heat-treated woods, soft metals, non-toxic paints and coatings, non-toxic fabrics and composites, and non-biodegradable toxins. To demonstrate these practices in practice, engineers must incorporate the concept of waste management in the overall architecture of the facility.
As stated previously, the concepts of sustainable growth and sustainability in engineering can be applied to a wide variety of different fields and arenas. For example, engineers can implement sustainability in building design and construction, energy and climate change adaptation, transportation planning and design, and the design and construction of buildings and habitats. The application of these general concepts has been shown to promote the planning, development and operation of the community, economy and environment. In short, sustainability is not only a worthy goal for individuals and organizations; it is the key to promoting a healthy economy.
