BDA40502

Sustainability
Prof Dr Badrul Omar
 Introduction

What is the role of engineer in sustainable development???

Or
LEADERS
??
 Introduction
What is Sustainability?

• Sustainability is the subject of a social or management science

that studies and manages the impacts of human activity on the
quality and sufficiently of vitals capitals in the world, as
required to ensure human well-being

• “Development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs
– the Brundtland Report, 1987
World Commission on Environment and Development
 Introduction

A Sustainable System: Cyclical

 Introduction
Sustainability Drivers:

– Informed public demand

– Positive recognition for leaders
– Best long-term solution
– Environmental legislation
– Increasing prices for resources
(i.e. energy, water, fuel, wood etc.)
 Introduction
In Traditional Engineering…

• required to solve problems they are presented with

to the best of their knowledge
– within constraints of approval authorities
– within schedule and financial constraints

• Engineers search for methods that maximize

function, and minimize cost to clients
 Introduction
Maximizing utility while minimizing
the cost to the client

Shift in Engineering Mindset:

Maximize social benefit while
minimizing ecological impact
 Introduction

• Be aware of issues and impacts

– Inherently includes well-being of environment
• Comply and go beyond minimum requirement
• Involve public and communities in decision-making
• Set our mindset to doing what is right
• Even when appears to be a more difficult process - it is a
step in the right direction

Must change the way people think about sustainability!

 Introduction
What Professionals Can Do???
Design project to:
• Reduce material and energy use
• Use renewable energy resources
• Maximize lifespan of structure
• Reduce construction waste generated
• Reduce/eliminate hazardous waste generation
• Minimize maintenance and services required
 Introduction
What Professionals Can Do???
Most importantly…

Design project to either reduce or eliminate:

• greenhouse gas emission
• Use of ozone depleting substances
• Key air pollutants
• Indoor air pollutants
 Sustainable Development
3 Pillar Model of Sustainable Development

Economic
Growth

sustainability
Environmental Social
Protection Equity
 Sustainable Development
The Egg of sustainability:

ecosystem
Stresses & Stresses &
benefits from benefits from
ecosystem to people to
people ecosystem
people

International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 1994

Sustainable Development
What is to be sustained? What is to be developed?

• Life support • Economy

• Ecosystem services • Wealth
• Resources • Productive sectors
• Environment • Consumption
Sustainable Development
What is to be sustained? What is to be developed?

Life support Economy

• Ecosystem services • Wealth
• Resources • Productive sectors
• Environment • Consumption

Nature People
• Life expectancy
• Earth • Education
• Biodiversity • Equity
• Ecosystems • Equal opportunity

Community Society
• Cultures/Groups • Institutions
• Places • Social capital
• States/ Regions
 Global Warming
Global CO2 emissions from the burning Global CO2 emissions from the burning
of fossil fuels & the manufacture of of fossil fuels & the manufacture of
cement (in 109 kg CO2) cement (in 109 kg CO2)

12000 35000
from solid fuel burning
10000 30000 Total emissions
from liquid fuel burning
from gas fuel burning 25000
8000
from cement production 20000
6000 from gas flaring
15000
4000 10000
2000 5000
0 0
1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
Year Year

*Reference: R. Shanthini 2010

Global Warming

*Reference: R. Shanthini 2010

 Global Warming
The burning of fossil fuels, land use change and
other industrial activities since the industrial
revolution have increased the GHGs in the
atmosphere to such a level that the earth’s surface
is heating up to temperatures that are very
destructive to life on earth.
Global Warming
Global Warming
Global Warming

*Reference: R. Shanthini 2010

 Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
• GHGs are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit
radiation within the thermal infrared range.
• This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse
effect.
• The main GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere
are water vapor, carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone

Without GHGs, Earth's

surface would be on
average about 33°C colder
than at present.
Green House
Discussion

Group Discussion in 10 minutes

 Discussion
Eco-efficiency
• Industry is moving toward demanufacturing and
remanufacturing – that is, recycling the materials
in their products and thus limiting the use of raw
materials and of energy to convert those raw
materials.

• It is the more competitive and successful

companies that are in forefront of what we call
eco-efficiency
Global Warming

So what are we going to do?

 Global Warming
The All-New DonCar????

www.OilCrisis.com/Transport
 Global Warming
PRT System

Freeway at Capacity

*Reference: PRT International Conference

 Global Warming
Vehicle Removed

*Reference: PRT International Conference

 Global Warming
PRT Passengers

*Reference: PRT International Conference

 Global Warming
PRT System

*Reference: PRT International Conference

 Invention
• You are given a grant opportunity to invent something.

• It could be anything;
• big or small,
• useful or useless,
• beneficial or destructive.

What would you invent?

(Write down on a paper in one sentence.)
Invention
• The plants are mostly
low-maintenance
perennials.

• Honeybees on the roof

produce more than 150
pounds of honey every
year!

• It is not accessible to
the public.

Green Roof of Chicago City Hall

 Invention
• Located in Dambulla

• 5000 sq ft green roof

• It got green walls

• Designed by Geoffrey
Bawa

• It is not accessible to the

public.

Green Roof of Kandalama Hotel

 Invention
• Lampshade made
from a Salvation Army
sweater
• and a discarded apple
juice bottle.

• It is beautiful, smart
and straight forward –
simply a good design.

• By Sara Ebert

Recycled attractive products

 Innovation
Defining Innovation:
Introduction of a new idea, product, service, or
practice which is intended to be useful;
to satisfy a perceived market need.

An essential element for innovation is

its application in a commercially successful way.

economically, ecologically and socially

Innovation
 Innovation
Solar Evolution

www.SolarEvolution.com/PRT

Similar Solar Systems Exist

Electro Roof

Source: A Hybrid Policy Model to Ensure Sustained PV Market Growth, Dan Shugar, President, Powerlight, Aug 9, 2005
Innovation

*Reference: R. Shanthini 2010

 System Design
• Traditional engineering design process focuses on
optimizing components for single benefits rather
than whole systems for multiple benefits.
• WSD requires creativity, good communication, and a
desire to look at causes of problems rather than adopting
familiar solutions, and it requires getting to the root of
the problem.
 System Design
CIRS building in British Columbia

Virtual tour at http://cirs.ubc.ca/building

 System Design
An example: Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building
in British Columbia
 all heating and cooling from the ground underneath the building
 all electricity from the sun
 use 100% day-lighting during the day
 use no external water supply
 depend on natural ventilation and sustainable building materials
 treat all waste produced
 minimize the use of private automobiles
 have hospital operating room levels of air quality
 improve the productivity and health of building occupants
 System Design
The Volkswagen 1-litre car:

• It is two-person concept car produced by Volkswagen.

• 1-litre car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel
• It is produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an
engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy.
• The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the L1 (100 km/L)
• It was modified again in 2011 as the XL1 (100 km/0.9 L).

In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013.
*Reference: R. Shanthini 2010
 Just Think !!!
If not this way,
then how?

If not now,
then when?
If not us, then
who?

Ponder this…
THANK YOU….

Q&A