From Guest Blogger Kara Masterson: How Civil Engineers Are Going Green in 2017
From city planning to industrial design there are numerous ways that engineers are able contribute to a greener and more sustainable future. From making use of re-purposed construction materials that may help to curb waste to utilizing clean renewable energy alternatives, there are numerous ways that sustainable engineering may be able to make a difference. The following examples each serve to highlight a different green engineering trend that we may expect to see more of in the very near future.
Utilizing Sustainable Building and Construction Materials
Wastes creating during any construction effort can often be considerable, especially when the byproducts of material construction are taken into account. Next-generation composites that may provide superior longevity and durability, repurposed materials that can further reduce waste and components that have been designed to have as little negative impact as possible on the world around us are all seeing greater mainstream acceptance. Professionals who hold a master of science in civil engineering continue to find new ways to lessen the environmental harm that industry and manufacturing is causing.
Smarter Building Layout and Urban Design
Simple layout, design or floor-plan can often have a far bigger impact than many people might realize. Utilizing natural lighting or engineering buildings that are better able maintain a comfortable interior temperature are not trends that should be taken lightly. Designing more efficient spaces or engineering urban environments in an effort to curb waste and reduce the harm that large populations may do to the natural world has the potential to make a big difference.
Utilizing Renewable Energy
The combination of high-efficiency devices and the ability to generate clean renewable energy may hold the keys to addressing serious problems like climate change. Engineering techniques that can be used in order to reduce energy consumption can often translate directly into a measurable decrease in pollution when implemented on a large enough scale. From the largest wind farms to residential-sized solar installations, renewable energy may provide the key to a greener future.
While the latest technology may take several years to see mainstream implementation, the constant need to innovate continues to lead to new breakthroughs and ways to refine existing technology. Today’s engineers are provided with a wider range of tools, resources and opportunities than ever before and efforts to use them in order to better protect the environment and natural world may still be in their infancy. Tomorrows engineering resources and solutions may have far more to offer than can be imagined today.
Craig,
I’m not sure of the value of always using ‘recycled’ materials.
The idea item is “sustainable” or more environmental beneficial because it’s been “recycled”, seems to rely more on ideology than any realistic assessment.
It’s a difficult to argue against the currant fashion for recycling all manner of materials as obviously recycling has many benefits, not the least of which is the satisfaction of the aesthetic pleasure of incorporating old and often beautiful materials into modern design.
However, the downside is often ignored. Not all older materials can really be recycled without considerable environmental and economic cost.
There’s also the effect of failing to support new and more innovative products to consider, along with the need to support employment in manufacturing.
I suppose it’s a matter of co-existence, retaining the best of the old, while promoting the best of the new.
Just a thought.