How Engineering and Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand

Sustainability has become a global movement — one that's the central focus of people and companies alike. Arriving at a sustainable future requires several steps along the way. One of these steps involves examining how engineering and sustainability go hand-in-hand.

Multiple areas of engineering effectively can incorporate sustainability. From design to construction, engineers have many opportunities to push the green movement forward. But how do the two fields overlap? And why is it so important?

What Is Sustainability?

The global population is growing every year. With it, pollution, toxic materials and waste also increase. As the source of these harmful outputs, humans are responsible for creating a better future for upcoming generations. A large part of this process is sustainability.

Hearing the word "sustainability," someone might think of the environment. While it is a central part of sustainability, it's not the only one. Sustainability encompasses cleaner, greener ways to live, as well as creating viable paths for future generations to thrive.

Sustainability is the practice of maintaining an ecological balance by reducing harmful emissions and increasing environmentally friendly practices. Doing so prevents the environment from deteriorating — many experts say the Earth needs immediate action to avoid environmental disasters. People can solve this kind of ecological pressure by taking action.

With sustainability, people can develop practices that fulfill the current population's needs. Beyond that, this green concept will also meet future generations' needs. That is why people call it sustainability — it sustains the environment indefinitely. But it also affects organizations, too. Engineering innovations must become the norm for this industry to keep humanity sustainable.

How Does Sustainability Affect Engineering?

Engineering consists of many different sectors. From civil to chemical engineering, sustainability is a part of every aspect. The designing, modeling and construction of various public works like buildings, railways, waterways and bridges include harmful emissions. These emissions continue entering the atmosphere as these buildings waste energy or run on fossil fuels. Sustainability is now more crucial than ever due to the increase in emission-producing processes.

Through the construction of public works, engineers will need to implement sustainable resources and practices. For instance, when engineers work on an office building, they can use eco-friendly building materials instead of traditional harmful ones. They can implement water-conserving appliances or energy-efficient light bulbs. And renewable energy could become the building's central source of electricity.

With better sustainability comes improved performance and practices, and this ranges from the biggest factors down to the smallest details. Something as simple as reduced water waste will positively impact the environment. Proper material storage is another sustainable practice that can help during an environmental site assessment for industrial or commercial buildings. Every detail matters, and engineers can bring these positive outcomes to fruition.

The use of sustainable practices in engineering will significantly improve this field's overall environmental contributions. Decreasing emission levels is one of the most important steps to take concerning the construction and retrofitting of buildings and other structures.

The Triple Bottom Line

When sustainability and engineering go hand-in-hand, this merged concept benefits three crucial areas — people, profit and the planet. This phenomenon is called the triple bottom line. Many businesses take on this approach to show their customers and employees that they dedicate themselves to bringing about positive change in all three areas. To do this, they need sustainability. And to achieve sustainability, they need engineers.

Over 25 years ago, John Elkington coined the term "the triple bottom line." Recently, he has spoken on the concept and emphasized sustainability's importance and its ability to benefit all three areas. For finances, the bottom line would be sales or a business's return on investment. For the environment, a reduction in energy usage and pollution are two examples of positive change. And for the social element, the bottom line could look like creating jobs or giving back to the community.

Engineering is the way to achieve sustainability in all these areas. When engineers design and construct sustainable buildings or public works, it saves businesses money over time. Regarding social impact, sustainability will create new jobs due to its ever-growing nature, opening up new opportunities. And most obviously, sustainability benefits the environment, reducing energy use, waste and emissions.

Merging Sustainability With Engineering

Businesses — and society as a whole — rely on engineers to implement these sustainable developments. From the architect to the engineer, each part of the process contributes to creating a sustainable future. Thus, sustainability and engineering don't just overlap — they are inseparable.

Bio:

Emily is an environmental writer who covers topics in sustainability, renewable energy and technology. To read more of her work, check out her blog, Conservation Folks.

About Author:

I am Thomas Britto here to share my experiences in the civil engineering field to all my readers.Today many students are struggling to buy books at high prices. So I decided to start a blog and share my experience and knowledge with all my readers.

Let's Get Connected: Twitter | Facebook | Google Plus