Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Concerns about the environmental impact of industrial processes will likely continue to increase in the future as global population grows, the demand for engineering-related goods and services expands, and economic development increases. In this paper, a recently developed course on the environmental impact of industrial processes is described, which is suitable for engineers in mechanical and other engineering fields and for others working in industry and technology. The course concerns such topics as industry—environmental interactions, industrial ecology, environmental concerns, life-cycle assessment, industrial process residues and design for environment. Two comprehensive case studies and a major student project are included in the course. The course has been offered twice. Based on the feedback received, the course has been successful in meeting its objectives of increasing student knowledge and appreciation of the environmental impact of industrial processes, and has been considered worthwhile by students.

Keywords

environment industry education energy industrial ecology

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

World Energy Council, ‘Global Energy Perspectives to 2050 and Beyond’, Report, London (1995).

World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future (The Brundtland Report), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1987.

Norton

, ‘An Overview of a Sustainable City Strategy’. Prepared for the Global Energy Assessment Planning for Cities and Municipalities, Montreal, Quebec, 10 October 1991.

MacRae

K. M.

, Realizing the Benefits of Community Integrated Energy Systems, Canadian Energy Research Institute, Calgary, Alberta, 1992.

Rosen

M. A.

, ‘Development of a course on the environmental impact of industrial processes’, Proc. 16th Canadian Congress of Applied Mechanics, 1–5 June 1997, Quebec City, Quebec, pp. 541–542.

Barratt

, ‘Long-range perspectives in environmental education: Producing practical problem solvers’, European Journal of Engineering Education, 22, 167–182, 1997.

Elms

Newport

and Milke

, ‘Education foundations for environmental effectiveness’, European Journal of Engineering Education, 22, 183–192, 1997.

Installe

, ‘How to educate future engineers towards a better understanding of the relationships between technology, society and the environment’, European Journal of Engineering Education, 21, 341–346, 1996.

Duffell

, ‘Toward the environment and sustainability ethic in engineering education and practice’, Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 124(3), 78–90, 1998.

10.

Joy

D. M.

and Whiteley

H. R.

, ‘Environmental engineering education—need for innovation and expansion’, Proc. 7th Canadian Conference on Engineering Education, Toronto, June 27–28, 1990, pp. 80–86.

11.

Wareham

D. G.

and Elefsiniotis

, ‘A proposed course matrix for holistic education in environmental engineering’, International Journal of Engineering Education, 11(2), 1995.

12.

Catalano

G. D.

, ‘Developing an environmental friendly engineering ethic: A course for undergraduate engineering students’, ASEE Journal of Engineering Education, 82(1), 27–33, 1993.

13.

Spelt

J. K.

, ‘Preparing mechanical engineers for an environmentally-conscious world’, Proc. 7th Canadian Conference on Engineering Education, Toronto, June 27–28, 1990, pp. 76–79.

14.

Jeswiet

and van Luttervelt

C. A.

, ‘Teaching engineers about environmental conscious manufacturing’, Proc. 16th Canadian Congress of Applied Mechanics, Quebec City, Quebec, 1997, pp. 539–540.

15.

Graedel

T. E.

and Allenby

B. R.

, Industrial Ecology, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1995.

16.

Graedel

T. E.

and Allenby

B. R.

, Design for Environment, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1997.

17.

Graedel

T. E.

and Allenby

B. R.

, Industrial Ecology and the Automobile, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1998.

18.

Graedel

T. E.

, Streamlined Life-Cycle Assessment, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1999.

19.

Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, ‘Accreditation Criteria and Procedures’, 1998.

20.

Continuing Education Calendar: 1999/2000, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto, 1999.

Teaching the Environmental Impact of Industrial Processes

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References