ENGINEERS SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

 

(The following article is an excerpt from a paper work project in collage titled “Global warming, an environmental issue related to engineering”)

 

As the old saying that goes in every problem there is solution, we would like emphasize that the challenges of environmental issues caused by global warming to engineering has solutions.  We have heard about the term “Circular Economy”.  Circular Economy as we describe in its simple definition means an approach of producing and consuming which involves sharing, reducing, re-using, recycling, repairing, refurbishing, and repurposing the existing materials and products as much as possible.  We have to do these in order to find the solution on global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste and pollution.  Engineering can apply this in building communities and nation as well.  In designing the engineering works, it has to align with the principles of circular economy.  For example is reducing.  Since we have already maximize the resources of earth, or abused if that is the right term, then all we need to do is to reduce, or moderate everything if inevitable.  Reduce the construction of new building by renovating old and dilapidated buildings, as possible.  Reduce the erection of new buildings by repurposing the existing buildings.  By doing these, old and dilapidated buildings can be transformed into advanced spaces, maximize the space of the buildings and their uses. This is a significant response to circular economy because construction of buildings reduces the use of resources such as metals, minerals and energy.  At the same time demolition reduces the production of wastes such as Co2 and solid wastes.

 

On electrical engineers point of view, engineers should apply the reduction of waste from lights pollution.  Today, business establishments, buildings, and facilities are having excessive exterior lighting and illuminations.  By reducing the lights, it subsequently reduces light pollution, enhances power conservation, reduces glow in the atmosphere, and benefits the environment.  The policy of limiting the use of outdoor lighting “when it is needed”, “where it is needed”, and “what is the required amount only” has to be observed.  Sustainable designs such as wind turbines, solar panels, waste water management systems, recycled waste do not compromise the natural environment.  When we use renewable and recyclable materials, reducing energy consumption of the building, reducing on-site waste, and protecting the natural habitats, we are part of sustainable engineering.

 

Circular economy is actually changing the cycle of the products and properties: the Take, Make, & Dispose cycle.  Engineering, or whatever profession it is, takes materials from nature, make the products out of it and use them, and dispose in landfills or burn them in incinerators.  That is the cycle.  The circular economy redesigns the cycle.  From take-make-dispose cycle, circular economy replaces it with this cycle: first is to close the cycle by recovering materials through remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling.  Second is to narrow the loop by using less resources, less materials without losing integrity of the usage of the product.  And third is to slow the loop by using resources longer, reusing them and repairing them.

 

Hence, the best practices approach are Reuse – reuse by another customer of the product which is still in good condition.  Reduce – reducing the consumption of material.  Repurpose – use discarded product in new function.  Repair – repairing or upgrading objects rather than throwing them away.  Refuse – do not consume what you do not need to. And recycle – make material to obtain the same or lower quality.

Circular economy focuses on low environmental impact and minimizes waste and excessive resource use by turning goods at the end of their lifespan into new resources for others.  Consider the design when planning a renovation by applying sharing, which is another principle of circular economy.  Introducing the design of office spaces as co-worker concept, it maximizes the spaces and reduces the uses of resources like wood, plastic, and energy. When construction of building is a must, then it must to be considered in engineering designs the support to green movement.  The strong presence of greenery of the trees and plants that shade the spaces serves as heat resistance for structures and makes its life span longer.  It makes a building an environmental and nature friendly.

 

Engineers are the subject matter experts when it comes to this field.  Engineers, under their professional code of ethics, play the fundamental roles in ensuring infrastructure designs and operations are continuously adapted to the impacts of climate change to ensure public safety.  By applying the principles of circular economy, they emphasize the design-based implementation of the three base principles: eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and regeneration of nature.  Maybe we cannot totally stop engineering works by now but we can reduce and slow down the harmful effect of climate change.  Remember, applying circular economy interrupts the engineering to input resources when it provides new materials for construction, and disables the their outputs resources when demolishing such as creating solid waste that we dump in junk sites, and this helps the environment to slow down global warming.