SUSTAINABILITY
What Does it Mean for Civil
Engineers?
Developed by Yvette Pearson Weatherton, Ph.D., P.E.
This work was supported by a grant from the National Science
Foundation (project no. 0935202).
• Prioritize alternatives based on resource
conservation/waste management hierarchy
• Categorize project elements into life cycle stages
• Use the Sustainable Design Checklist to compare
alternatives
Objectives
What is Sustainability?
Meeting today’s needs without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
(Brundtland Commission, 1987)
What is Sustainability?
People
Planet
Profit
Triple Bottom Line
Resources Used
• Renewable versus Non-renewable
Resource Conservation/Waste Management
• Hierarchical System
Life Cycle Analysis
• Cradle to Grave Impacts
Sustainable Alternatives
Consider…
Renewable Resources
• Can be replaced within a
few generations
• Examples:
• Timber
• Surface Water
• Solar Power
• Wind
Resources
Photo Credit: http://renewables-energy.net
Non-renewable
Resources
Photo Credits: www.webmineral.com, www.darvill.clara.net
Resources
• Can only be replaced on
geological time scales
• Examples:
• Fossil Fuels
• Coal
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Metal Ores
• Aluminum
• Copper
• Iron
Why is
reuse
preferred
above
recycling?
Photo Credit: www.merchantcircle.com
Consider the Following
• Aluminum is a nonrenewable resource.
• Titanium alloy is
created by adding
other elements to
titanium to improve
its properties.
• Aluminum is more
easily recycled than
titanium.
• Titanium is more
durable than
aluminum.
A bicycle manufacturer is
considering changing from steel
wheel rims to rims made from either
aluminum or titanium alloy. From a
resource conservation point of view,
which alternative would you
recommend? Explain your choice.
Activity 1: Resources
Source: Davis, M. L. and Masten, S. J. (2009). Principles of Environmental
Engineering and Science, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Creation
Use
Life Cycle Stages
Demolition
•Design
•Material Selection
•Site Selection
•Construction
Creation
“Cradle”
Use
Life Cycle Stages
Demolition
•Distribution
•Operation
•Maintenance
Use
Use
Life Cycle Stages
Demolition
•Destruction
•Disposal
Use
Use
Life Cycle Stages
Demolition
“Grave”
Ground
Water
Surface
Water
Wastewater
Disposal and
Treatment
Water
Treatment
Storage
Customer
Use
Distribution
Life Cycle Stages Example:
Water Supply and Treatment
Ground
Water
Surface
Water
Wastewater
Disposal and
Treatment
Water
Treatment
Storage
Customer
Use
Distribution
Life Cycle Stages Example:
Water Supply and Treatment
Ground
Water
Surface
Water
Water
Treatment
Storage
Customer
Use
Distribution
Wastewater
Reuse
(Irrigation)
Wastewater
Disposal and
Treatment
Life Cycle Stages Example:
Water Supply and Treatment
Ground
Water
Surface
Water
Water
Treatment
Storage
Customer
Use
Distribution
Wastewater
Reuse
(Irrigation)
Wastewater
Disposal and
Treatment
Life Cycle Stages Example:
Water Supply and Treatment
Energy,
equipment,
chemicals, etc.
Raw wastewater
from domestic
and industrial
sources
Wastewater
Treatment
Reuse of treated
wastewater for
irrigation
Inputs and Outputs
for a Single Stage
Treated
wastewater to
receiving stream
Create three separate headings
on your paper, one for each life
cycle stage. Consider a highway
resurfacing project.
(1) List as many components of
the project as you can, placing
each under the proper life
cycle heading.
(2) Consider the demolition stage.
List the inputs and outputs
associated with that stage.
Activity 2: Life Cycle Stages
• Safety
• Cost
• Usefulness/Feasibility
• Sustainability
• Other
Sustainable Design
Checklist
•
•
•
•
•
•
Material Use
Energy Use
Water Use
Solid Waste Generation
Emissions Generation
Water Pollution
Discharges
• Land Impacts
• Other
Alternative Analysis
Sustainable Design Checklist