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12 Principles Of Green Engineering
By Claus Schafhalter | February 18, 2010
In 2003 scientists proposed ideas for green engineering. Based on work done to articulate principles for green chemistry, Anastas and Zimmermann developed principles for “Green Engineering”.
I do like the pragmatic approach inherent in these principles. I think it is worth to look at these principles:
12 Priciples For Green Engineering:
- Inherent Rather Than Circumstantial
Designers need to strive to ensure that all materials and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently nonhazardous as possible. - Prevention Instead of Treatment
It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed. - Design for Separation
Separation and purification operations should be designed to minimize energy consumption and materials use. - Maximize Efficiency
Products, processes, and systems should be designed to maximize mass, energy, space, and time efficiency. - Output-Pulled Versus Input-Pushed
Products, processes, and systems should be “output pulled” rather than “input pushed” through the use of energy and materials. - Conserve Complexity
Embedded entropy and complexity must be viewed as an investment when making design choices on recycle, reuse, or beneficial disposition. - Durability Rather Than Immortality
Targeted durability, not immortality, should be a design goal. - Meet Need, Minimize Excess
Design for unnecessary capacity or capability (e.g., “one size fits all”) solutions should be considered a design flaw. - Minimize Material Diversity
Material diversity in multicomponent products should be minimized to promote disassembly and value retention. - Integrate Material and Energy Flows
Design of products, processes, and systems must include integration and interconnectivity with available energy and materials flows. - Design for Commercial “Afterlife“
Products, processes, and systems should be designed for performance in a commercial “afterlife.” - Renewable Rather Than Depleting
Material and energy inputs should be renewable rather than depleting.
If you are in the market to buy a new product, it is quite interesting to look at a product through the green engineering lens. While many design features are hard to evaluate just looking at a product, some can be seen quite easily and are able to influence purchasing decisions. So, how does the iPhone fare, the Prius, or the simmer pan available at Williams-Sonoma?
Still, the sarcastic side in me needs to mention that certain products land on the wrong side of principle #7 “Durability rather than immortality”. I got too many products lately that stop to function way too soon. A little bit more “immortality” would be appreciated!
Topics: Sustainability Concepts, Tools & Methodologies | No Comments »