GREEN ENGINEERING: THE WAY TO SAVE THE PLANET.

While it is true that the current population lives in the middle of technological and industrial development shaped and molded by the actions of engineering, environmental problems are generated by activities related to this field grow disproportionately, the increase in environmental pollution, the extinction of some species of plants and animals and the reduction of natural resources are some examples of the harmful effects caused. That's why in recent years there has been great emphasis on sustainable development, which not only ensures the economic and industrial development but also for environmental conservation. From there, came up the concept of Green Engineering, which involves the use of techniques for the establishment of more efficient processes and technologies that lead to environmental benefit results, and thus, industries contribute their grain of sand for protection, recovery and conservation of the environment. Green Engineering is a different way of making engineering. It is a way of designing industrial and production processes, in ways that are clean, safe and careful with the environment, but also a way of thinking and understanding the processes by which raw materials are transformed and are obtained economic benefits; is the right way to make engineering, from production processes that prevent pollution and waste generation, reduce energy consumption, damage to the environment and human health risk. It is a tool to save the planet. Since the Stockholm Conference held in June 1972, in which the countries assembled talked about international environmental issues and it was initiated the development of international environmental policy; the Brundtland report published in the year 1987, prepared by member nations of the UN in which they looked for the creation of actions that could reverse the damage caused to the environment due to industrial activity; and the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, in which the countries assembles talked for the first time about sustainable development, protection of the environment has been the focus of all governments. However, although it has created an idea of sustainable development, has not yet generated a change, that's why environmental damage is still increasing. Terms such as, eco-design, clean technology and industrial ecology have in common with developing plans to restore and permanently protect the environment; the main idea is that improving the quality of the environment is linked to industrial development. The application of ecological processes which the

residues are integrated as raw material or energy source would favor that conception. Rather than paying a huge price to correct the damage caused to environment, industries must redesign their industrial systems to achieve not only economic but also environmental quality. The problem is that to create different techniques and change processes within the industry it's necessary to make a monetary investment and that's why the big global companies prefer to stick with traditional processes. Since the Industrial Revolution, the premises of the economic system are "effectively and quickly at the lowest cost," but to get it it's affected the health of people and ecosystems survival. This is translated into a rapid growth in production and a rapid consumption without considering the degradation of natural resources and the environment in general, which makes necessary a change in industrial production processes, there, it's where takes place the importance of green engineering. There are many obstacles that must be overcome to make all processes of daily life into green or clean processes, some of them will be very difficult to overcome, and that won't happen from a day to the next a radical change. There are many reasons for this, one of them are the big international interests that exist. Another major reason is that companies are not adapted to a world that promotes green issues, because it has always been exposed to the waste of natural resources. Fortunately, though gradually, the situation is changing, as the interest in sustainable development is growing, and it is changing the thought that humans are foreign to the environment around them, but being the venue of life is directly related to social and cultural development of the population. In this way work of engineers today is not just make designs or develop technological solutions to industrial or economic needs, improve efficiency and make process optimization, but to create strategies and techniques that take into account the proper maintenance of the environment: clean production processes design, oriented to preserve natural resources, designing products from procurement in nature to final disposal does not produce significant waste, develop methods for the strengthening of biodiversity, generate techniques for the rational use of water, energy systems that allow replacing traditional energy sources clean energy, control pollution generated by industries, among others. the application of principles of eco-efficiency which is defined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development as "the production of goods and services at competitive prices that meet human needs and provide quality of life, as

well as gradually reducing ecological impacts and the use of several resources during the life cycle, to a standard equivalent to at least the estimated capacity of the planet "[1]. Its important to name the twelve principles of Green Engineering [2]: The 12 principles provide a framework for engineers and scientists involved in the design of processes and products thinking about the benefit of human health and the environment. Principle 1: Inherent Rather Than Circumstantial. Designers need to strive to ensure that all material and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently nonhazardous as possible. The toxic hazards of hazardous substances can be minimized with an investment of time, money, materials and energy resources. Principle 2: Prevention Instead of Treatment. It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed . In some cases the waste treatment it is more expensive than its re-use, therefore, industries must design techniques to achieve the reuse of waste materials. Principle 3: Design for separation. Separation and purification operations should be designed to minimize energy consumption and materials use.

Principle 4: Maximize Efficiency. Products, processes, and systems should be designed to maximize mass, energy, space, and time efficiency. Principle 5: Output-Pulled Versus Input-Pushed. Products, processes, and systems should be output pulled rather than input pushed through the use of energy and materials. Principle 6: Conserve Complexity. Embedded entropy and complexity must be viewed as an investment when making design choices on recycle, reuse, or beneficial disposition. Principle 7: Durability Rather Than Immortality. Targeted durability, not immortality, should be a design goal. Principle 8: Meet Need, Minimize Excess. Design for unnecessary capacity or capability (e.g., one size fits all) solutions should be considered a design flaw.

Principle 9: Minimize Material Diversity. Material diversity in multicomponent products should be minimized to promote disassembly and value retention. Principle 10: Integrate Material and Energy Flows. Design of products, processes, and systems must include integration and interconnectivity with available energy and materials flows. Principle 11: Design for Commercial Afterlife Products, processes, and systems should be designed for performance in a commercial afterlife. Principle 12: Renewable Rather Than Depleting. Material and energy inputs should be renewable rather than depleting.

The Science and Chemical Engineering have as permanent challenge; improve their production processes through clean technologies and reducing their emissions, optimizing the performance of their plants by saving energy and raw materials taking responsibility for the proper use of their products. Contribute through their knowledge in the handling, treatment and recycling of substances and products classified as toxic and dangerous and technologies applied to wastewater treatment solids, liquids and gases, carried out in the production plants.

It is the chemical field which can, through physical, chemical and microbiological tests, to analyze and measure contaminants, by developing technologies based on physics and chemistry can protect and safeguard the environment. The design and proper handling of chemicals, as well as reducing emissions from chemical and pharmaceutical industries, depends largely the future of the planet. Considering the challenge of green chemistry and science is as diverse as the scientific imagination, it is not surprising that its implementation involves all sectors of society, from research to the government and education. This last involves forming future citizens with responsible attitudes and behavior in environmental terms. At present and future generations the conservation of the environment should be the focus of technological and industrial development, and thus not only ensures good quality of life of the population, but an environment without degradation, it means, sustainable development.

The task of large industries is thus comply with standards that have been established for the conservation of the environment and follow the principles of Green Engineering, designing alternatives and techniques for process optimization preventing environmental pollution and allowing the nature a welfare state. This requires changing the thought that the only important thing is to get more money but look at the impacts that industrial production has on society and The Earth. Its not an easy task, nor can you make from one day to the next, but with hard work of all humanity is the best option to ensure that the Earth be in good conditions to house many generations.

REFERENCES [1] Franchetti, M., Bedal, K., Ulloa, J., et al., Lean and green: industrial engineering methods are natural stepping stones to green engineering, Institu te of Industrial Engineers, Inc.,28, 2009. [2] Anastas, P., Zimmerman, J.B., Design through the Twelve Principles of Green Engineering, Env. Sci. and Tech, 37, 5, 94A-101A, 2003.