James Anthony
Section 012
Assignment 2
1. Discuss the importance of sustainability in engineering. How can engineers contribute to
sustainable development? (1/10)
Sustainability is very important in engineering. Engineers are a large part in
reducing pollution and conserving natural resources. Engineers can contribute to
sustainable development by designing systems and solutions that help the cause, i.e.
water conservation efforts, renewable resource use, and the use of eco-friendly
materials.
2. Explain the concept of Cradle-to-Cradle design. Provide two specific examples of
products designed with C2C principles. (1/10)
Cradle-to-Cradle design is design that emphasizes the ease of reuse. This is
usually by being made from recyclable or biodegradable materials. Two examples of this
are Herman Miller furniture and paper straws.
3. Describe the four main phases of Life Cycle Assessment and their significance. (1/10)
Phase one is goal and scope definition. This determines both the goal and the
scope of the LCA study. Phase 2 is life cycle inventory. This tries to quantify all materials
in the system, and creates data. Phase 3 is the life cycle impact assessment, which
evaluates the environmental impact of the data. Phase 4 is interpretation. This looks at
the results to draw conclusions and recommendations for possible improvements.
4. Propose a circular economy strategy for managing electronic waste. Include steps for
collection, recycling, and re-manufacturing. (1/10)
A circular economy is when waste is designed out, with the intention to keep
products and materials in use.
Possible strategy for a circular economy:
Place e-waste collection bins at convenient locations. Enforce laws that require the use
of e-waste collection bins. Sort valuable materials (gold, copper, etc) and usable
materials from the unusable. Have manufacturers use the recovered parts to make new
electronics. Encourage manufacturers to produce longer lasting/upgradeable devices.
James Anthony
Section 012
5. Design a state-of-the-art eco-city prioritizing innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. Use
the following key aspects. (6/10)
● Define the engineering vision and core principles of your eco-city.
The city’s vision and principles include having a biophilic design, being
pedestrian friendly, and being net-zero.
● Choose a location for your eco-city based on engineering considerations such as
water access, transportation, local resources, and soil quality
Positioned near a river for sustainable freshwater. Located on fertile land
for farming. Close to potential sources of renewable energy. Located at a large
transportation intersection.
● Incorporate bioinspired engineering elements into your city design.
Green buildings. Bio-based mycelium insulation for buildings. Heavily
invested into public transportation/being a walkable city. Lots of sidewalks/bike
paths.
● Implement industrial ecology principles to minimize waste, promote resource
efficiency, and manage energy sustainably within your eco-city.
Common use of recycled materials/goods. Implement efficient and
convenient-to-use waste disposal systems to decrease littering/mis-disposal of
waste.
● Describe the transportation, energy grid, waste management, and water supply
systems strategies.
Heavily invested into public transportation/being a walkable city. Lots of
sidewalks/bike paths. Implement efficient and convenient-to-use waste disposal
systems to decrease littering/mis-disposal of waste. Use underground parking
garages to save space for buildings on the surface.
