Green Engineering

Name
Course
College
Date
Green Engineering
Green engineering involves the design and commercial application of process and technologies that promote sustainability, reduce cases of pollution of the natural environment and are health-friendly to the living environment without compromising its performance efficiency and economic viability. Green engineering concepts, in this case, support the use of human and animal-friendly techniques that perform with the same efficiency and have the same market value as other non-green products. Also, green engineering works under the principles of conserving and developing the natural ecosystem and at the same instance preventing health risks that can negatively impact the survival of the living environment. Therefore, Lozano et al. (227) state that green engineering involves the application of engineering-based solutions while at the same time take note of the need to conserve the natural environment. Annand adds that green engineers innovate engineering technics that in addition to performing better than the existing technologies, they promote environmental conservation and sustainability. In this context, we look at the principles governing green engineering, the benefits and the constraints the programs have encountered while being implemented in the society.
The institution of the Green Engineering program was followed by the process of setting up twelve principles that were guide on how engineering projects and development will be carried out while at the same time promoting sustainability and conservation of the environment.

The first principle requires the designers of engineering products to create inherent instead of circumstantial products. In this case, the products designed were to consist of materials and energy inputs and outputs that are not hazardous to the environment. Secondly, the engineers and designer were to incline more on prevention than treatment measures when it came to handling waste. According to Anastas and Julie (95), the principle was to ensure that instead of creating waste so that later they can be treated and cleaned up, the designer was to seek for ways where they minored the occurrence of the waste materials. Thirdly, the design process was to split separation and the purification process to reduce the number of materials being used and the energy consumed to run the two-process combined.
Fourthly, the products, process and the techniques used by the designers were to ensure that the maximum and efficient use of energy, time and space. Also, the systems, process, and products being produced were to be output-pulled instead of being input-pushed. When selecting the recycle and disposition process, the designer had to take into consideration the fact that embedded entropy and complexity of the process was more of an investment than an expense. The materials used in the product design were also supposed to be durable to ensure the product lasted for a much longer time before they were considered wastes. Moreover, the approach of material diversity was to be minimizing to increase value retention and promote disassembly. The products being designs, and the process adopted was supposed to consider integration and interconnectivity of the materials and energy flows. Lozano et al. (229) add that the engineering models created were to consider the design for commercial “Afterlife” approaches such that the product could last for the maximum possible time without decreasing its performance standards. Lastly, the inputs being used by the products and the process were to be renewable sources instead of non-renewable materials.
Application of the concept green engineering extends to all areas in the engineering fields. Some of the sectors where green architecture has been implemented include the renewable power generations, environmental monitors, optimization of machines and manufacturing and production processes, development and experimentation of green technologies. Tang et al. (268) explain that some of the techniques that have made green engineering possible include the high-resolution and high-speed measuring instruments, graphical software used in assessing the performance and simulation real-time application of the products, the domain-specific experimental library, and several other advanced technologies. An example of green engineering in the mechanical engineering field is the Solar Collector that collects heat and before transferring it to the form of solar process heat. Another example of green engineering application within the mechanical field is the technology that allows the power stations and the heat engines to produce both electricity and heat and recycle them back to their systems. In this case, the energy is renewed rather than being depleted.
Some of the benefits of green engineering to the environment include the use of renewable natural source preventing nature from being depleted hence maintain it for future use throughout generation after generation. Green engineering has also led to the inventions new, cheap and environmentally friendly energy generation techniques such as the green nanotechnology. Green engineering has brought about innovative environmental solutions that assist in waste disposal and recycle of waste materials. As a result, the environment is left clean and conducive to human settlement.
However, green engineering faces several constraints that hinder its full implementation around the world. These limitations are either technical, economic or social. According to Anastas and Julie (98), the financial factors constricting the advancement of green engineering is the enormous expenses involve with setting up and purchasing the green engineering equipment. Tang et al. (269) state that it cost approximately 60% more to install photovoltaic solar power compared to alternative energy sources in America. As a result, it is possible that the government initiative to go green will drain other sectors such as healthcare and education massive finances. Furthermore, some of the home green applications are very expensive and require the government to chip in subsidies to make the consumer market afford them. Some of the innovated green technologies are yet to meet the needs of the consumers fully. Nosonovsky and Bharat (271) state that the some of the equipment such as the photovoltaic solar panels have been reported to have severe drawbacks causing the public to be reluctant to try them out in their homes. Moreover, the society mostly in most rural areas around the world is yet to understand, adopt green engineering principles within their lifestyle since there is still the reluctance to adjust to new way of doing things since some will force them to abolish their cultures.
In conclusion, full implementation of green engineering will significantly improve the environment and encourage proper use of the limited natural resources in the world. The implementation process of the green engineering policies and technologies are facing several technical, economic and social challenges, however, by reducing depletion of the natural resources and introduction of recycling techniques within the manufacturing industries, countries around the world are headed towards a more healthy and comfortable future.
Works Cited
Anastas, Paul T., and Julie B. Zimmerman. “Peer reviewed: design through the 12 principles of green engineering.” (2003): 94-101.
Annand. “Group for Environment and Energy Engineering-IITK.” Group for Environment and Energy EngineeringIITK RSS, students.iitk.ac.in/ge3/?p=8.
Lozano, Francisco J., et al. “New perspectives for green and sustainable chemistry and engineering: Approaches from sustainable resource and energy use, management, and transformation.” Journal of Cleaner Production 172 (2018): 227-232.
Nosonovsky, Michael, and Bharat Bhushan. “Superhydrophobic surfaces and emerging applications: non-adhesion, energy, green engineering.” Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 14.4 (2009): 270-280.
Tang, Samantha Y., et al. “The 24 principles of green engineering and green chemistry: “IMPROVEMENTS PRODUCTIVELY”.” Green Chemistry 10.3 (2008): 268-269.