Introduction to Sustainability for Engineers

393 Pages·2020·13.146 MB·English

by  Toolseeram Ramjeawon

Introduction to
Sustainability for
Engineers

Introduction to
Sustainability for
Engineers
Toolseeram Ramjeawon
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Ramjeawon,Toolseeram,author.
Title:Introductiontosustainabilityforengineers/ToolseeramRamjeawon.
Description:BocaRaton:CRCPress,[2020]|Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2019042492(print)|LCCN2019042493(ebook)|ISBN9780367254452
(hardback;acid-freepaper)|ISBN9780429287855(ebook)
Subjects:LCSH:Environmentalengineering.|Sustainableengineering.|Engineeringdesign.
Classification:LCCTA170.R362020(print)|LCCTA170(ebook)|DDC620.0028/6–dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2019042492
LCebookrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2019042493
VisittheTaylor&FrancisWebsiteat
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To my family – for always being there for
me – and to my students – for the
motivation to inspire a sustainable world

Contents
Preface ........................................................xiii
Acknowledgments ...............................................xv
AbouttheAuthor...............................................xvii
Contributors ................................................... xix
1. SustainableDevelopmentandRoleofEngineers................. 1
1.1 Introduction ...........................................1
1.2 WhyandWhatIsSustainableDevelopment? ...............1
1.3 TheSDGs,ParisAgreement,andRoleofEngineering.......15
1.4 SustainableDevelopmentandtheEngineeringProfession ...22
1.5 KeyAttributesoftheGraduateEngineer..................24
1.6 Summary.............................................24
SustainableEngineeringinFocus .............................. 25
References.................................................. 27
Exercises................................................... 28
RecommendedReadingandWebsites .......................... 31
2. SustainableEngineering:Concepts,Principles,
andFrameworks ............................................ 33
2.1 Introduction ..........................................33
2.2 KeyConceptsforSustainableEngineering.................33
2.2.1 Factor4andFactor10:theGoalsof
Sustainability .................................34
2.2.2 SystemsThinking..............................35
2.2.3 LifeCycleThinking ............................35
2.2.4 TheCircularEconomy..........................36
2.2.5 IndustrialEcology .............................38
2.2.6 GreenEconomyandLow-CarbonEconomy .......39
2.2.7 TheNaturalStep ..............................39
2.2.8 ResourcesEfficiencyandDecoupling .............40
2.2.9 Eco-efficiency .................................41
2.2.10 TripleBottomLine.............................41
2.3 GuidingPrinciplesforSustainableEngineering ............42
2.4 FrameworksforSustainableEngineering..................46
2.5 Summary.............................................52
SustainableEngineeringinFocus .............................. 53
References.................................................. 55
vii
viii Contents
Exercises................................................... 56
RecommendedReadingandWebsites .......................... 58
3. ToolsforSustainabilityAssessment........................... 61
3.1 Introduction ..........................................61
3.2 ProceduralTools ......................................63
3.2.1 EnvironmentalManagementSystem..............63
3.2.2 EnvironmentalAuditing........................64
3.2.3 CleanerProductionAssessment..................65
3.2.4 EnvironmentalImpactAssessment...............68
3.2.5 StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment..............71
3.2.6 LifeCycleManagement.........................71
3.2.7 DesignforSustainability........................72
3.2.8 SustainableProcurement........................73
3.2.9 StakeholderEngagement........................74
3.2.10 CSRandSustainabilityReporting ................75
3.2.11 Eco-LabelingandEnvironment
ProductDeclaration............................76
3.2.12 BuildingsandInfrastructureRatingSystems.......77
3.2.13 Backcasting...................................78
3.3 AnalyticalTools.......................................79
3.3.1 BasedonPhysicalMetrics.......................79
3.3.1.1 LifeCycleAssessment .................79
3.3.1.2 Carbon,Water,andProduct
EnvironmentalFootprints ..............80
3.3.1.3 MaterialFlowAccounting ..............81
3.3.1.4 EnvironmentalRiskAssessment.........82
3.3.1.5 GreenInfrastructureValuation..........83
3.3.2 BasedonNonphysicalMetrics...................84
3.3.2.1 StakeholderAnalysis ..................84
3.3.2.2 CostBenefitAnalysis ..................85
3.3.2.3 EnvironmentalLifeCycleCosting
(E-LCC)..............................85
3.3.2.4 SocialLifeCycleAssessment............86
3.3.2.5 LifeCycleSustainabilityAssessment.....86
3.3.2.6 Multi-criteriaAnalysis .................87
3.3.2.7 SystemDynamics .....................88
3.4 Summary.............................................89
SustainableEngineeringinFocus .............................. 90
References.................................................. 92
Exercises................................................... 93
Contents ix
4. FundamentalsofLifeCycleAssessment ...................... 105
4.1 Introduction–WhyandWhatIsLCA? ..................105
4.2 TheLCAMethodology................................107
4.2.1 TheLCAGoalandScopeDefinition .............109
4.2.2 LifeCycleInventory...........................112
4.2.3 LifeCycleImpactAssessment ..................115
4.2.4 InterpretationandPresentationofResults........125
4.2.5 TheIterativeNatureofLCA....................126
4.2.6 MethodologicalChoices .......................127
4.2.7 LCIDatabasesandLCASoftwares ..............130
4.2.8 StrengthsandLimitationsofLCA...............131
4.3 EnvironmentalLifeCycleCosting,SocialLifeCycle
Assessment,andLifeCycleSustainabilityAssessment .....132
4.3.1 Introduction .................................132
4.3.2 EnvironmentalLifeCycleCosting...............132
4.3.3 SocialLifeCycleAssessment ...................133
4.3.4 LifeCycleSustainabilityAssessment ............134
4.4 LCAApplicationsinEngineering .......................134
4.4.1 EnvironmentalProductDeclarationsandProduct
CategoryRules...............................134
4.4.2 CarbonandWaterFootprinting.................135
4.4.2.1 CarbonFootprinting..................135
4.4.2.2 WaterFootprinting ...................136
4.4.3 EnergySystems ..............................136
4.4.4 BuildingsandtheBuiltEnvironment ............141
4.4.5 DrinkingWaterSupplyandWastewater
Treatment ...................................142
4.4.6 SolidWasteManagement......................143
4.4.7 ChemicalsandChemicalProduction.............143
4.4.8 AutomotiveIndustry..........................144
4.4.9 FoodandAgriculture .........................144
4.4.10 ElectronicsandInformationandCommunication
Technologies(ICT)............................144
4.5 Summary............................................145
SustainableEngineeringinFocus ............................. 146
References................................................. 154
Exercises.................................................. 156
RecommendedReadingandWebsites ......................... 160
5. IntroductiontoEnvironmentalEconomics..................... 163
5.1 Introduction–WhatIsEnvironmentalEconomics? ........163