Industrial Ecology and Sustainable
Engineering 1st Edition By Graedel Braden
Allenby
CHAPTER 1: TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Q1: In 1983, the birthrate in Ireland was 19.0 per 1000 population per year and the death rate,
immigration rate, and emigration rate (same units) were 9.3, 2.7, and 11.5, respectively.
Compute the overall rate of population change.
A1: R = [19.0 – 9.3] + [2.7 – 11.5] = 9.7 – 8.8 = 0.9 per 1000 population per year.
CHAPTER 2: THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Q2: Section 2.2 proposes that 25-50 years is the best choice for a sustainability planning time
scale. Do you agree? Explain.
A2: The response could involve discussion of human adult lifetime, scales of carbon and climate
cycles, the multifaceted nature of the transition, monitoring of change, or development of
technology. It may also address differences in time scale between planning for "weak" or
"strong" sustainability.
CHAPTER 3: INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING CONCEPTS
Q3: Choose a room of your apartment, dormitory, or house. Conduct an inventory of the
physical items or "artifacts" in the room. Divide them into four categories: (1) The artifact is
necessary for survival, (2) The function performed by the article is necessary, but the artifact
represents unnecessary environmental impact, (3) The artifact is unnecessary for survival but is
culturally required, (4) The artifact is both physically and culturally unnecessary. Can you
extrapolate this result to your general consumption patterns? Based on these results, what
percentage of your consumption represents unnecessary environmental impact?
A3: Example Solution:
- Category 1: Boots, Blanket, Pillow, Canteen, Winter coat
- Category 2: Extra pairs of shoes, Extra pairs of sheets, Extra plates, Extra clothes, Desk,
Computer
, - Category 3: Dress shoes, Silverware, Books, Rug, Television
- Category 4: Earrings, Throw pillows, Slow-cooker, Wall decorations
Unnecessary environmental impact is about 50% of my consumption.
CHAPTER 4: THE RELEVANCE OF BIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY TO TECHNOLOGY
Q4: Compare and contrast biological organisms and industrial "organisms" (factories, facilities).
What are the key similarities and differences in their metabolisms?
A4: Similarities: Both take in resources from their environment, transform those resources
through metabolic processes, produce useful products, and generate wastes. Both require
energy inputs to function. Both exist within larger systems and interact with other organisms.
Differences: Biological organisms have evolved over millions of years toward efficiency and
closed-loop systems. Industrial organisms are designed by humans and typically operate on
linear through-put models. Biological organisms have natural limits on growth; industrial
organisms can scale up without inherent limits. Biological wastes are typically nutrients for other
organisms; industrial wastes are often toxic or non-biodegradable.
CHAPTER 5: METABOLIC ANALYSIS
Q5: Define "metabolism" in the context of industrial ecology. How does this concept help
analyze industrial systems?
A5: Metabolism in industrial ecology refers to the flows of materials and energy through
industrial systems, analogous to biological metabolism. It involves tracking inputs (raw
materials, energy), transformation processes (manufacturing, use), and outputs (products,
emissions, wastes).
This concept helps analyze industrial systems by providing a systematic framework for
quantifying resource use, identifying inefficiencies, tracking material flows, assessing
environmental impacts, and identifying opportunities for closing loops and reducing waste.
CHAPTER 6: TECHNOLOGY AND RISK
Q6: What are the historical patterns in technological evolution regarding environmental and
health risks?
Engineering 1st Edition By Graedel Braden
Allenby
CHAPTER 1: TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Q1: In 1983, the birthrate in Ireland was 19.0 per 1000 population per year and the death rate,
immigration rate, and emigration rate (same units) were 9.3, 2.7, and 11.5, respectively.
Compute the overall rate of population change.
A1: R = [19.0 – 9.3] + [2.7 – 11.5] = 9.7 – 8.8 = 0.9 per 1000 population per year.
CHAPTER 2: THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Q2: Section 2.2 proposes that 25-50 years is the best choice for a sustainability planning time
scale. Do you agree? Explain.
A2: The response could involve discussion of human adult lifetime, scales of carbon and climate
cycles, the multifaceted nature of the transition, monitoring of change, or development of
technology. It may also address differences in time scale between planning for "weak" or
"strong" sustainability.
CHAPTER 3: INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING CONCEPTS
Q3: Choose a room of your apartment, dormitory, or house. Conduct an inventory of the
physical items or "artifacts" in the room. Divide them into four categories: (1) The artifact is
necessary for survival, (2) The function performed by the article is necessary, but the artifact
represents unnecessary environmental impact, (3) The artifact is unnecessary for survival but is
culturally required, (4) The artifact is both physically and culturally unnecessary. Can you
extrapolate this result to your general consumption patterns? Based on these results, what
percentage of your consumption represents unnecessary environmental impact?
A3: Example Solution:
- Category 1: Boots, Blanket, Pillow, Canteen, Winter coat
- Category 2: Extra pairs of shoes, Extra pairs of sheets, Extra plates, Extra clothes, Desk,
Computer
, - Category 3: Dress shoes, Silverware, Books, Rug, Television
- Category 4: Earrings, Throw pillows, Slow-cooker, Wall decorations
Unnecessary environmental impact is about 50% of my consumption.
CHAPTER 4: THE RELEVANCE OF BIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY TO TECHNOLOGY
Q4: Compare and contrast biological organisms and industrial "organisms" (factories, facilities).
What are the key similarities and differences in their metabolisms?
A4: Similarities: Both take in resources from their environment, transform those resources
through metabolic processes, produce useful products, and generate wastes. Both require
energy inputs to function. Both exist within larger systems and interact with other organisms.
Differences: Biological organisms have evolved over millions of years toward efficiency and
closed-loop systems. Industrial organisms are designed by humans and typically operate on
linear through-put models. Biological organisms have natural limits on growth; industrial
organisms can scale up without inherent limits. Biological wastes are typically nutrients for other
organisms; industrial wastes are often toxic or non-biodegradable.
CHAPTER 5: METABOLIC ANALYSIS
Q5: Define "metabolism" in the context of industrial ecology. How does this concept help
analyze industrial systems?
A5: Metabolism in industrial ecology refers to the flows of materials and energy through
industrial systems, analogous to biological metabolism. It involves tracking inputs (raw
materials, energy), transformation processes (manufacturing, use), and outputs (products,
emissions, wastes).
This concept helps analyze industrial systems by providing a systematic framework for
quantifying resource use, identifying inefficiencies, tracking material flows, assessing
environmental impacts, and identifying opportunities for closing loops and reducing waste.
CHAPTER 6: TECHNOLOGY AND RISK
Q6: What are the historical patterns in technological evolution regarding environmental and
health risks?
