What is green engineering?

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More and more businesses are realizing the benefits of sustainably designed buildings and infrastructure – not just in terms of brand reputation but also financially. We take a look at what green engineering means and why it’s so important, as well as a few examples of green engineering in action.

What is green engineering?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines green engineering as:

“The design, commercialization, and use of processes and products that minimize pollution, promote sustainability, and protect human health without sacrificing economic viability and efficiency.”

Globally, engineers attempt to adhere to nine guiding principles when designing a ‘green’ project:

  • “Engineer processes and products holistically, use systems analysis, and integrate environmental impact assessment tools.
  • Conserve and improve natural ecosystems while protecting human health and well-being.
  • Use lifecycle thinking in all engineering activities.
  • Ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently safe and benign as possible.
  • Minimize depletion of natural resources.
  • Strive to prevent waste.
  • Develop and apply engineering solutions, while being cognizant of local geography, aspirations, and cultures.
  • Create engineering solutions beyond current or dominant technologies; improve, innovate, and invent (technologies) to achieve sustainability.
  • Actively engage communities and stakeholders in development of engineering solutions”

In essence, they attempt to deliver a building that meets the needs and budget of their client while making each step of the process as sustainable and forward-thinking as possible, from planning and the choice of materials all the way through to community engagement.

Why is green engineering important?

The word sustainability crops up so often in our daily lives that it’s easy to overlook the most important underlying fact – if environmentally sound practices need to be defined as ‘sustainable’ in the first place, the implication is that the way we’re currently doing things isn’t. In other words, we simply won’t be able (or have the natural resources available) to keep building the way we have been indefinitely.

The more we learn about the natural ecosystems around us, the more we have to admit our ultimate dependence on them – for clean air, water, and healthy soil in which to grow our food. Practices which jeopardize these systems – be it dangerous levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, pesticides in our water systems, or the use of building materials which contaminate the environment – ultimately jeopardize the future of our entire species. Conversely, the more we strive to create buildings and infrastructure which cause less harm, and ideally even benefit the environment around them, the better for the planet and the better for us.

Examples of green engineering in action:

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Innovative solar carport at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Carbon neutral, zero carbon and carbon negative buildings

Building a brand new residential, commercial or industrial building virtually always results in the release of additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – whether it’s the freight and delivery of materials, or during the manufacturing process of those materials. Connecting that building to electricity which is produced through the burning of fossil fuels like coal means it continues to contribute CO2 into the atmosphere during its lifetime.

Taking measures to offset that carbon output – such as making the building off-grid through the use of solar panels, or buying carbon credits, can allow the building to achieve a ‘carbon neutral’ or ‘zero carbon’ rating. Carbon neutral buildings aim to achieve a net zero carbon emissions total through the purchase of enough carbon credits to offset the emissions produced. Zero carbon buildings aim to produce no carbon right from the start.

Carbon negative buildings take this concept one step further – aiming to sequester or capture more carbon during their lifetime than they produce. The ‘B House’ in Singapore is one such example. Oriented to minimize heat gain and maximize ventilation, producing excess solar energy which can be fed back into the grid, and constructed from modular, prefabricated and recyclable components which reduce waste, this beautifully engineered home also manages to look sleek and stylish while retaining the local aesthetic and blending with its neighbours.

Leaving room for nature – green roofs, vertical gardens and retaining walls

No matter how advanced our technologies become, there are some things Nature will simply always do better. Leaving room for plants and animals, or creating a space where a miniature ecosystem can be allowed to thrive – such as a green roof or rain garden – are an excellent way to make our cities more resilient, more pleasant places to live.

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Vertical garden in São Paulo, Brazil

Walls can be used to create vertical gardens, and where the topography is very steep, retaining wall solutions for stabilization and to prevent erosion can be applied, leaving the outermost fascia level open for planting. Not only does this look better and create a habitat for small creatures, it allows runoff and rainwater to drain into the soil and replenish the groundwater rather than disappearing down storm water drains.

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A steep slope stabilized with geocells and vegetation rather than impervious concrete

If we work with and incorporate nature into our buildings and cities, harnessing clean energy and designing our structures to take advantage of the elements rather than working against them, green engineering has a host of potential benefits – saving money, resources, our health, and ultimately the planet we all share.