5 Best Practices for Sustainable Engineering

Sustainable building has been in vogue for nearly two decades as people have become more aware of their environmental impact. As we build structures to meet our needs, we are also considering how to mitigate damage to natural resources. Fortunately, with advances in technology and sustainable engineering best practices, you can develop buildings while still being a tree hugger at heart. Post them in your office and remember them for every new project. 

Principles of Sustainable Engineering

Sustainable engineering involves making responsible decisions to construct green buildings and other structures that meet today’s needs without drastically impacting future generations. These core principles guide its practice. 

Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) 

LCA refers to how you evaluate a product’s environmental impact across its lifecycle. For sustainability engineers, LCA includes everything from transporting the raw materials used to create a new project to its overall energy consumption once the building is complete. 

For sustainability in engineering, you use the LCA to assess each step in your supply chain to determine where you’re using the most energy and raw materials as well as to identify steps that waste resources. You then compare supply chain alternatives to see where you can reduce your environmental impact. 

For example, steel and cement production have a high-carbon footprint. As you’re doing your LCA for a new building, you could look for companies that use lower-carbon production methods or recycle existing materials. 

Resource Efficiency

Resource efficiency involves utilizing resources to reduce environmental impact. Following this principle as an engineer means designing spaces that minimize waste and optimize energy usage. You would also consider how to reduce material consumption during the design process and when operating the building. 

Systems Thinking

Instead of tackling one task at a time during the design-build process, systems thinking encourages you to think about the big picture. Taking this approach to sustainable engineering means thinking about how all elements of your building are connected. You consider the environmental, economic, and social impacts of everything from raw materials to the finished process. 

Best Practices in Sustainable Engineering

Now that you’ve passed Intro to Sustainable Engineering, you can learn how to put these principles into practice. 

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Integration

During the initial design and project management stages, identify where you can reduce your building’s energy consumption. Consider integrating renewable energy sources into your designs. You might add more windows into a building to maximize use of natural light and rely less on energy. Or you could add solar panels into the design so your tenants can opt for solar power. 

Sustainable Materials and Resource Management

Use all your materials wisely for a more positive impact on the environment. Consider how you can use existing construction and demolition materials to avoid extracting raw materials to produce steel, concrete, and aluminum. 

Opt for more sustainable building materials that come from renewable sources such as bamboo or hempcrete. Also consider indoor air quality and other building features that make the building healthier for the people who will be using it. 

Water Conservation Management

Before breaking ground on buildings and other construction projects, consider how you can reduce water usage with smart design. Estimate your water demand and choose high-efficiency fixtures. Figure out if you can use alternative water sources such as reclaimed water or stormwater instead of using fresh water for all your needs. 

When you’re working with landscape architects, consider creating designs using native plants, xeriscaping, smart landscaping techniques, and water-smart irrigation. 

Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention

Consider how you can lower your greenhouse gas emissions and pollution levels during the building design phase. Choose durable materials that don’t need to be replaced as often. Utilize construction methods that make it easier to disassemble building components before the demolition process so you can reuse materials. 

Partner with suppliers using greener transportation and packaging to reduce carbon emissions during the construction process. 

Also, think about how your HVAC and other systems will impact the environment and use smart technology to make them more energy efficient. 

Community Engagement and Social Responsibility

Sustainability isn’t limited to our environmental impact. You also want to have a positive impact on the people in your community. Involve local residents in the design-build process so you know you’re meeting their needs. 

Engaging the community will help you understand their concerns and priorities. They may value environmental sustainability or preservation. They might be concerned about increases in traffic and other impacts once your building opens. Address these concerns and hire local workers and source materials locally to positively impact the area. 

Challenges and Future Directions

Sustainable engineering isn't a perfect science. You will face challenges along the way.  

Economic Constraints

Economic factors can derail your best intentions. You might be pressured to find cost savings by using unsustainable raw materials. Sustainable engineering practices can be more costly to implement even when they save you money in the long run. If your projects aren’t well funded, you may have to scale back your sustainability efforts.

Technological Limitations

Sustainable technologies, including IoT sensors and smart HVAC and lighting systems, are great for optimizing energy efficiency. However, unless you’re working on a new build, you might not have the right infrastructure to incorporate them into your building. 

It’s expensive to remove a building’s existing IT infrastructure to update technology that can improve sustainability. 

Regulatory Hurdles

As an engineer, you’re used to wading through red tape to accomplish your goals, and this includes sustainable practices. You may run into conflicting regulations that make sustainability more challenging. Some areas still have outdated building codes that don’t consider sustainable technology. Additionally, you might face long approval practices for different construction materials and tech infrastructure. 

Create More Sustainable Buildings With Attune

Attune is committed to sustainable engineering. We offer a variety of solutions to help you monitor indoor air quality, water and energy consumption, and real-time asset monitoring. Our solutions offer you a plug and play network of sensors you can use to make your buildings more energy-efficient.

Show your tenants that you’re committed to minimizing your impact. Use our tools to analyze historical data and improve your HVAC and other systems. Schedule a demo today.