Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
[Element
2
]: Select the least polluting, preferably renewable, forms of
energy.
[Element
3
]: Capture and reuse waste energy in the same process or
elsewhere.
[Element
4
]: Use the minimum amount of material (especially
nonrenewable material) to achieve the required functionality.
[Element
5
]: Select the material with minimum environmental
footprint that can deliver the required functionality.
[Element
6
]: Reuse and recycle postconsumer products into material,
feedstock, or energy.
[Element
7
]: Minimize undesirable externalities associated with
processes. Reduce air and water emissions as well as solid waste from
manufacturing.
[Element
8
]: Avoid or at least minimize the release of chemicals from
processes or products, especially those toxic to humans or disruptive to
the ecosystem. Avoid hazardous chemicals in products.
[Element
9
]: Convert emissions otherwise released into the
environment (such as CO
2
) into useful raw materials or products.
Avoiding hazardous materials or chemicals in product design is a
particularly important element (8) in the matrix. Hazardous in this context
means one or more of the following: acute or chronic health hazard,
environmental hazard, explosion risk, exposure potential, fire hazard and
potential for accidents, using the material. Redesigning products to ensure
transition into renewable energy and monomer feedstock is an overarching
aspect of sustainable growth.
A change or strategy that fits any of the nine spaces will be a sustainable
move. But even best practice does not of course address all nine elements.
Infact,itisunlikelythatsustainablestrategiesthataddressamajorityofthe
elements are easy to come up with or to implement. Those that address at
least a single element effectively contribute to environmental sustainability.
The nine strategies taken together make the “sustainability matrix” that
qualitatively describes the different aspects of sustainable growth. It is a
convenient way to summarize sustainable growth and perhaps has use as a
