environmental engineering, English homework help

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1-Write an official 1-page office memo to your instructor that provides definitions for: (a)Sustainable Development (by the Bruntland Commission), (b) Sustainability (according to the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) Body of Knowledge), (c)Sustainability (according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Body of Knowledge), and, (d) Sustainable Development (according to the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Code of Ethics)

2-Write your own definition of sustainable development as it applies to your engineering profession. Explain its appropriateness and applicability in 2-3 sentences.

3-Identify three definitions of sustainability from three sources (for example, local, state or federal government; industry; environmental organization; international organization; financial or investment organization). Compare and contrast those definitions with the Brundtland Commission definition. How do the definitions reflect their sources?

4-Relate the “Tragedy of the Commons” to a local environmental issue. Be specific on what

you mean in terms of the

“commons” for this particular example, and carefully explain how these “commons” are being damaged for current and future generations.

5- Visit EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award website at

www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/past.html. Select a past award-winning project. Basedon the description of this project, what are the environmental, economic and social benefits ofthis green chemistry advance?Solution:Student responses will vary. An example of an award-winning project of the Green Chemistry

Challenge Award is for Buckman’s Maximyze Enzymes. These enzymes are made of natural

catalysts that reduce the energy and wood fiber needed to manufacture high-quality paper. In onecase, paper was able to be reduced by 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet which not only reduces the amount of raw pulp materials but also lowers shipping and energy costs. With increased paper strength, more recycled fibers can be used in the paper which is beneficial to the environment and reduces costs. Overall, this new enzyme translates into a social benefit with less deforestation and a cleaner environment for a healthier society. For more information on this specific green chemistry challenge award winning project, see the link below:http://www.buckman.com/about-us/news/562-buckman-wins-presidential-green-chemistry-challenge-award

6-Provide an example of a product either commercially available or currently under development that uses biomimicry as the basis for its design. Explain how the design is mimicking a product, process, or system found in nature.

7- Choose three of the principles of green engineering. For each one, (a) explain the principle in your own words; (b) find an example (commercially available or under development), and explain how it demonstrates the principle; and (c) describe the associated environmental,economic, and societal benefits, identifying which ones are tangible and which ones are intangible.

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Explanation & Answer

Kindly see attached files. I've included a plagiarism report as well in case you need to present it

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES
(NAME)
(PROFESSOR’S NAME)
(COURSE)
December 2016

1

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES

2

Table of contents
Exercise 1. Formal definitions of sustainable development ......................................................................... 3
Exercise 2. My definition of sustainable development ................................................................................. 4
Exercise 3. Definitions of sustainable development in the industry and mass media ................................. 5
3.1. Sustainable development in the cosmetics industry ......................................................................... 5
3.2. Sustainable development in the tourism industry ............................................................................ 5
3.3. Sustainable development in mass media .......................................................................................... 6
Exercise 4. The Tragedy of the commons ..................................................................................................... 7
Exercise 5. EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award ............................................................... 8
Exercise 6. How technology mimics nature .................................................................................................. 9
Exercise 7. Principles of green engineering ................................................................................................ 10
7.1. “It is better to prevent waste than to treat it” ................................................................................ 10
7.2. “Targeted durability, not immortality, should be a design goal” .................................................... 10
7.3. “Performance metrics include designing for performance in after-life” ......................................... 10

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES

3

Exercise 1. Formal definitions of sustainable development
Date: December 15th, 2016
To: (Name of your professor)
Subject: Definitions of Sustainable Development
As agreed on our last meeting held on December 8th, 2016, I have prepared an overview
of the definitions of the concept of sustainable development as given by the different
governmental bodies.
In the first place, the Bruntland Commission defines sustainable development as any type
of development that “meets the present needs of the society without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs”1.
The rest of governmental bodies base their definition on the definition done by the
Bruntland Commission. Hence, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE)
defines sustainability as the condition in which humans use natural resources and industrial
systems without decreasing quality of life nor affecting future economic opportunities or
presenting a future adverse impact on social conditions, human health or the environment2.
Similarly, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) defines sustainability as the ability
to maintain and improve the quality of life indefinitely without decreasing the quality, quantity
and availability of resources for future generations3. Lastly, the National Society of Professional
Engineers (NSPE) defines sustainable development as the challenge of meeting current needs
while protecting the environmental quality and the natural resources since they are essential for
the development of future generations4.
Thus, the ASCE, AAEE and NSPE use the basic definition provided by the Bruntland
Commission according to which sustainable development should satisfy current needs while
protecting future needs, and adapt it to their respective fields.

1

http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-ov.htm#1.2
http://www.cece.ucf.edu/bok/pdf/EnvE_Body_of_Knowledge_Final.pdf
3
http://www.asce.org/sustainability/
4
https://www.nspe.org/resources/pe-magazine/client-push-sustainability
2

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES

4

Exercise 2. My definition of sustainable development
My definition of sustainable development is that we use the natural resources we have but
ensuring that we will not overuse them such that they will be available for future generations,
and most importantly, by avoiding to pollute further our environment. In this regard, this
definition adds the concept of environmental pollution to the ones described in the previous
exercise. As an environmental scientist, I think that this concept is crucial, and that even if we
preserved our resources, they would be useless for future generations if they are so polluted that
they can’t use them.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING EXERCISES

5

Exercise 3. Definitions of sustainable development in the industry and
mass media
3.1. Sustainable development in the cosmetics industry
The cosmetics industry because has constantly been blamed for the testing of the
cosmetic products in animals. According to my research, the cosmetic industry has radically
changed this perspective and is now focused on preserving animal life. However, and since the
newly developed cosmetic products must be tested for their potential toxic effects as well as their
efficiency, they have developed new in-vitro methods as substitute for animal tests being done
some decades ago.
Taking this into account, the definition of sustainable development in the modern
cosmetics focuses on the preservation of the environment for future generations. However, an
important aspect in which it differs from the definition of sustainable development proposed by
the Bruntland Commission is the preservation of animal life5.

3.2. Sustainable development in the tourism industry
Similarly, to the definition of the Bruntland Commission, sustainable development ...


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