What Does it Mean?
The definition of sustainability is constantly evolving and will continue to do so as we pivot towards the development of a more tree-hugging and environmentally conscious society. I believe the definition will vary depending on the context, as well as who you ask. Generally speaking, I believe the general consensus is that the social benefits of improving the environment and elevating human needs is truly the essence of meaning behind the word sustainability.
Three overarching themes come to mind when pondering sustainability:
1) Energy Efficiency
As an engineer, sustainability and energy efficiency are concepts that are closely intertwined. Many industries have incorporated innovative solutions to help us, as a society, pivot towards an energy efficient environment. For instance, the creation of photovoltaic cells has revolutionized the way we produce and conceptualize power. There are an innumerable number of measures in place to help lower the consumption of energy within the engineering industry — specific to building construction — ranging from ensuring building envelopes are tightly sealed to become more energy efficient and lower the power required to operate the HVAC system to installing LED lights to lower the overall energy consumption.
2) Conservation of the Environment
In order to prosper as a society and prioritize conservation of the environment, we must learn to co-exist with nature. We must learn to live in a way in which we satisfy our current needs without compromising the environment nor the betterment and well-being of future generations.
3) Preservation of Natural Resources
Many natural resources are scarce in the environment and the preservation of limited resources is critical to a prospering society, both socially and environmentally. The depletion of natural resources can be detrimental to our environment as it contributes to a decline in biodiversity— it is important to bear in mind that not all resources can be replenished, so we must protect what is left.
Future Directions
With all of these goals in mind, I am optimistic when I ponder the future. I believe that as time progresses, we are becoming more environmentally conscious as a society and the moral incentives to protect our earth will motivate us to embrace sustainability.
What Inspirational Examples Can We Learn From?
Although there are many astounding examples of sustainability projects, one in particular has always piqued my interest: the use of Greek yogurt byproduct to generate power. During the production of yogurt, whey is produced — a watery byproduct. Commonly, the byproduct is shipped back to farms to be used as fertilizer, but now yogurt companies are using it to generate power, forming a closed-loop system.
Another inspirational example of a sustainability project would have to be a grid-interactive efficient building. This type of building promotes the harmonious interaction of multiple systems to prioritize energy efficiency and optimize the overall building performance. By intertwining all building energy conservation systems — i.e:. plug load controls, HVAC zone controls, smart thermostats, etc. — they are able to synchronize and detect the most energy efficient operation to lower the energy consumption.
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