DJJ40132

Engineering and
Society
Chapter 6 : Sustainability
& Green Engineering
Lecturer : Mohd Yusri Ibrahim
What is Sustainability

 Sustainable engineering is the science of

applying the principles of engineering and
design in a manner that fosters positive social
and economic development while minimizing
environmental impact.
 Sustainable engineering practices may be
applied to a variety of industries, including
manufacturing, new and existing construction,
energy systems, transportation, waste
management, and environmental remediation.
In short, any industry in which energy is
expended or resources are consumed can
benefit from responsible sustainable
development.
Difference between Sustainable
Engineering and Traditional Engineering
Sustainable Engineering
 Integrates technical and nontechnical issues
 Strives to solve the problem for the indefinite future (for ever)
 Considers the global context (planet)sustainable Engineering
 Design Criteria
 Safety
 Function
 Cost
 Impact on the planet (environment)
 Impact on people (society)
Difference between Sustainable
Engineering and Traditional Engineering
Traditional Engineering
 Focuses on technical issues
 Solves the immediate problem (now)
 Considers the local context (user)
 Traditional Engineering Design Criteria
 Function
 Cost
 Safety
WHAT IS GREEN TECHNOLOGY
 It is a technology which is environmentally friendly,
developed and used in such a way so that it doesn’t
disturb our environment and conserves natural
resources.
 It is also known as environmental technology and
clean technology
 “Green Technology” is a system that uses
innovative methods to create an environmental
friendly products
 It uses renewable natural resources that never
depletes, so future generation can also benefit
from it.
 It can effectively change waste pattern and
production in a way that it won’t harm the planet.
GOALS OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY
1. Reduce – Fuels, Waste, Energy consumption, Wastage of clean water
2. Recycle - Paper, Plastic, Cans, Batteries, Clothing
3. Refuse – Refuse the use of plastic bags
4. Renew - Renewing Energy: Wind power, Water power, Solar Energy, Bio-fuel, Waste water
5. Responsibility -
 Don’t waste electricity – Switch off electrical equipment when not required.
 Don’t waste water – Never leave taps open while brushing or washing dishes.
 Don’t waste fuel
 Don’t waste food – Don’t cook extra food and throw, always keep in mind that there are million in the
world starving without food
BRANCHES OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY

 Green Chemistry
 Green Energy
 Green IT
 Green Building
 Green Nanotechnology
GREEN CHEMISTRY

 The term green chemistry was coined by Paul Anastas in 1991

 Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry.
 The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to
reduce or to eliminate the use of hazardous substances.
GREEN ENERGY

 Green energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides,
plants, algae and geothermal heat.
 These energy resources are renewable.
GREEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 Also called green computing it describes the study and the

using of computer resources in an efficient way.
 Green IT starts with manufacturers producing
environmentally friendly products and encouraging IT
departments to consider more friendly options like
virtualization, power management and proper recycling
habits.
GREEN BUILDING

 Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and

their use of energy, water and materials and reducing building impacts on
human health and environment through better design, construction,
operation, and maintenance.
GREEN NANO TECHNOLOGY

 Green nanotechnology refers to the use of nanotechnology to enhance the

environmental sustainability of processes producing negative externalities.
 It also refers to the use of the products of nanotechnology to enhance
sustainability.
Model of sustainable development

 Sustainability is a societal goal that broadly aims for humans to safely co-exist on Earth over a long
time.
 The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national and individual
level (e.g. sustainable living).
Structure Malaysia Green Technology
Master Plan
 The Green Technology Master Plan (GTMP) is fundamentally an outcome of the Eleventh Malaysia
Plan (2016-2020) which has earmarked green growth as one of six game changers altering the
trajectory of the nation’s growth
 The GTMP creates a framework which facilitates the mainstreaming of green technology into the
planned developments of Malaysia while encompassing the four pillars set in the National Green
Technology Policy (NGTP) i.e. energy, environment, economy and social.
 A summary of the key points describing the embedding of green technology in each sector is as
follow:
 Energy
 Manufacturing
 Transport
 Building
 Waste
 Water
Environmental issues

 Environmental issues are the harmful effects of

human activities on the environment. These
include pollution, overpopulation, waste
disposal, climate change, global warming, the
greenhouse effect, etc.
 Various environment protection programs are
being practised at the individual, organizational
and government levels with the aim of
establishing a balance between man and the
environment.
Climate Change

 Climate change is a great concern in today’s scenario. This problem has

surfaced in the last few decades. Greenhouse gases are the major cause of
climate change. Environmental changes have several destructive impacts such
as the melting of glaciers, change in seasons, epidemics, etc.
Global Warming

 The burning of fossil fuels, emissions from

automobiles and chlorofluorocarbons add
to the greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. This has led to an increase in
the earth’s temperature causing
environmental changes. This increase in
temperature across the globe is known as
global warming.
Ozone Layer Depletion

 The ozone layer is a layer of concentrated

ozone gas. It protects us from the sun’s
harmful ultraviolet rays. This very important
layer is being destroyed by CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons), which are used in
industries and everyday life (e.g. aerosol
cans).
 The chlorine in these compounds destroys the
ozone layer. The hole in the ozone layer leaves
humans and wildlife exposed to harmful UV
rays resulting in several skin diseases including
cancer.
Water Pollution

 The introduction of harmful substances

into rivers, oceans, lakes and ponds,
which changes the physical, chemical or
biological condition of the water is called
water pollution. The polluted water lacks
oxygen and therefore the organisms die.
 Water is the main source of life and
therefore it is our prime duty to prevent
it from any kind of pollution.
Air Pollution

 Air pollution is the result of emissions

from industries, automobiles, and the
increasing use of fossil fuels. The
gaseous emissions have added to an
increase in the temperature of the
earth. Not only this, but it had also
increased the risk of diseases among
individuals.
Solid Waste Management

 Solid-waste management is defined as the discipline associated with the

generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and
disposal of solid waste in a manner that it does not have a harmful effect on
the environment.
Deforestation

 Deforestation is the depletion of trees and forests at

an alarming rate. The trees provide us with oxygen,
and several raw materials and also maintain the
temperature of the earth. Due to the depletion of
trees for commercial purposes, there has been a
drastic change in the earth’s climate.

 Forests are an abode to a large number of wild

animals and plants. Destruction of forests has led to
the elimination of a large number of plants and
animal species affecting biodiversity.
Overpopulation

 The earth’s population is increasing drastically.

It is estimated to be more than seven billion.
The increasing population has led to a shortage
of resources. If this continues, it will be very
difficult to sustain such a huge population. The
other environmental issues including pollution,
waste management, deforestation, climate
change and global warming are all associated
with overpopulation.
 Contribution of engineers towards new
millennium
 The 20th century have witnessed a great achievement
in engineering technology in the field of design,
information technology (IT), construction,
manufacturing, robotic, advanced materials or even
the engineering management techniques for problem
solving. Some of the newly and enhanced technologies
include:
 Nuclear technologies - a new source of electric power
and new capabilities in medical research and imaging as
well as for unwarranted military use
 Lasers and fiber optics - pulses of light from lasers are
used in industrial tools, surgical devices, satellites, and
other products. In communications for instance, a single
fiber-optic cable can transmit tens of millions of phone
calls, data files, and video images.
 Petroleum and gas technologies – fuel for cars, home, and industries. Petrochemicals are
used in products ranging from aspirin to zippers. Engineering in oil exploration and
processing, petroleum products have an enormous impact on world economies, people,
environment and politics.
 Health technologies - Medical professionals have an arsenal of diagnostic and treatment
equipment at their disposal. Artificial organs, replacement joints, and bio-materials are but
a few of the engineered products that improve the quality of life for millions.
 Imaging technologies - Imaging technologies have expanded the reach of our vision. Probing
the human body, mapping ocean floors, tracking weather patterns are all the result of
engineering advances in imaging technologies.
 Space explorations – development of spacecraft has expanded our knowledge base, and improved our
capabilities. Thousands of useful products and services have resulted from the space program, including
medical devices, wireless communications, etc.
 Agricultural mechanization - machinery of farms; tractors, cultivators, combines, and hundreds of
others dramatically increased farm efficiency and productivity.
 Electronics - provide the basis for countless innovations; CD players, TVs, and computers. From vacuum
tubes to3 transistors, to integrated circuits, engineers have made electronics smaller, more powerful,
and more efficient.
 Aeronautics - modern air travel transport goods and people quickly around the globe, facilitating
personal, cultural and commercial interaction.
 Automobiles - may be the world’s major transporter of people and goods, and a strong source of
economic growth and stability. The automobile is a showcase of 20th century engineering ingenuity,
with innovations made in design production & safety.
 Electrification - powers has literally lighted the world and impacted countless areas of daily life,
including food production and processing, air conditioning and heating, refrigeration, entertainment,
transportation, communication, health care, and computers.