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Course Outcome 3
Able to relate the engineering field with sustainable development
(environment, social and economic)
PO7 Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of professional
engineering solutions in environmental contexts and the need for
sustainable development

Sustainability
COEB422 Engineers in Society
Dr Fazrena Azlee Bt Hamid
Semester 1, 2014/15

Content

1. The present: Engineers & Engineering

Engineering and engineers have experienced a varied public image

throughout the history of the profession.

2. Development to Sustainable Development

In the days of the great Victorian advances, engineers were heroes of the
day and received almost celebrity status.

3. What is Sustainability?
4. Why does it matter?

During the first half of the 20th century, engineering was widely perceived
as the profession of innovators who worked to satisfy a growing desire for
products and services and who offered an improved standard of living.

5. What is it to Sustain?
6. Sustainability and Engineers

In the past few decades, globally however, the public face of engineering
has slipped somewhat and engineers frequently have been portrayed as
ruthless destroyers of the environment whose creations put the health and
well-being of the public at risk.

7. Sustainability and Engineering

8. Sustainable Development in Malaysia

The present: Engineers & Engineering

The focus for many engineers throughout this time has been on producing
physical outputs, but the actual essence of engineering is more fundamental
and the visible artifacts are merely the outward evidence of a deeper service
given by engineers.
The engineering profession exists to provide for the needs of man and as a
result of its activities has a major impact on:
A) the world ~ the quantity of non-renewable resources used and the quality of
the natural environment (environmental system)

The present: Engineers & Engineering

Development to Sustainable Development

By looking around us, we realize that as development takes place in

humans life, the scarcity of resources continues along with a negative
impact of the environment.
Like it OR Not, effectively, the objective of engineering has to be redefined
from `development' to `sustainable development',
from the open and unfettered application of technology to the `creative
application of technology to achieve sustainable development

B) on its people ~ the services needed to support human gatherings (social

system).

Sustainable development is concerned with balancing the various aspects of

economic, social, and environmental issues, but it is not an end state in itself, but
rather is the route towards an optimal solution.

It is also likely to require (and generate) large amounts of money (economic

system).

Sustainable development is primarily about making improvements and decisions

in a beneficial direction towards a better future for the generations to come.

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Sustainability - definitions

Sustainability - definitions
UNESCO UN Decade for Sustainable Development:

A condition in which natural and social systems survive and thrive together

Sustainability is a systemic concept, relating to the continuity of economics,

social institutional, and environmental aspects of human society.

indefinitely
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the

It is intended to be a means of configuring civilization and human activities so

that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and
express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and
natural ecosystems, and planning and acting for the ability to maintain these
ideals indefinitely.

present generation without compromising the ability of future generations

to meet their needs

Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local neighborhood to

the entire planet.

UNESCO is the lead agency for the UN Decade of Education for

Sustainable Development (2005-2014)
*UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization

Why does it matter?

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Social inequity
Environmental upsets
Global climate change and ozone depletion

What is to be Sustained?
Dimensions and Objectives:
Resource Consumption:

Species extinction
Increase in waste (2 4 lbs / day)
Global carrying capacity limits (is mother natured stressed up ?):

minimize the consumption of matter and energy

Ecosystem Impacts:
minimize negative environmental impacts

I=PxAxT

Human Satisfaction:

I = environmental impact or stress

satisfy human needs and aspirations

P = Population
A = Affluence or consumption levels
T = Material or energy intensity (usage)

Uncertainty of the future

What is to be Sustained?
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HEALTH

Example: Transportation

EFFICIENCY

JUST

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Economic Sustainability

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Maintenance of Natural Capital

Ecosystem services that enable life

Human Capital
Often simply refers to labor
More subtly, the ability of an individual to produce or increase income:
Knowledge

Sources
Stocks of raw materials
Flows of renewable resources
Sinks

Skills
Health
Right Values

Capacity to assimilate wastes

Output Rule:
Waste emission cant exceed assimilative capacity of local
environment

Activities that increase human capital

Education
Training

Input Rule:
Renewables: Harvest rates should be within regenerative rates
Non-renewables: Harvest rates should be below that rate at which
renewable substitutes are developed

Medical care

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Environmental Sustainability

Social Sustainability
Social Capital
No Consensus definition

Knowledge and rules of interaction in culture and institutions

Legal system
Government

Social Sustainability general includes addressing basic needs of population

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Sustainability and Engineers

Recognitions of social issues in traditional development economics predate

environmental concerns
Income distribution

Quality of life
Illiteracy
Hunger

Institutional participation
Increasing choice

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Sustainability and Engineers

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Sustainability and Engineers: The

Temporal Context

Requires an understanding of:

The effect of technology on humans, society and the environment
Approaches to reduce negative effects of technology
Defining the causes of problems
Systems thinking
Innovative, sustainable solutions

Our inability to learn from the past and apply that to the future is a major
problem for sustainability
We tend to move towards quick, easy solutions
Traditional product design does not consider end of product life
Budgeting practices look more toward short term returns (no life cycle cost
analysis)

Incorporating a temporal context (time based) requires an understanding

of life cycle analysis, long term impact assessment and risk management
Requires an understanding of change over time or process thinking

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Sustainability and Engineers: The

Leadership Role

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As trained professionals, with an understanding of technology, society, the

environment and process thinking, sustainability engineers will have the
capacity and capability to become leaders of society

Although derived from environmental engineering, sustainability

engineering goes far beyond that discipline
Since it deals with the design, development and management of all
technology in relation to society, it should be brought into all engineering
disciplines

They must therefore be trained to understand the role of leaders and to

have good leadership skills

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Sustainability Practices

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1. Managing changes in the

environment
Engineers must thoroughly consider and project or plan that will have a
significant impact on the life support functions upon which human wellbeing depends, many of which are irreplaceable. Example,
use and placement of dams on waterways

Minimise waste products, particularly hazardous ones, from the total life
cycle of engineered products, processes or system

Four key sustainability factors for

engineers
1. Managing changes in the environment,

Because sustainability has a long-term focus, beyond the

life of most engineering projects, products, processes or
systems, methodology and resource used needs to focus
on both short- and long-term factors. This is often far
beyond the duties imposed by professional codes of
ethics.

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Sustainability and the Engineering

Disciplines

2. Ensuring the equity and safety of engineering

activities,
3. Holistic problem solving, and
4. Making good existing problems.

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2. Equity and safety of engineering

activities
Engineering projects at improving the overall quality of life for humans and
other life forms, but not at the long-term expense of the environment.
Give greater priority to projects, products and processes that decrease
significant gaps in health, security, social recognition, and political
influence between groups of people.

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3. Holistic problem solving

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Take an integrated systems approach or an overall holistic approach to

considering all stakeholders and the effect on the environment when
attempting to solve problems.

4. Making good existing problems

Where desirable, and technically and economically practicable, remedy
past environmental degradation. Example,
Land degradation, groundwater contamination and hazardous waste sites
should be considered for stabilisation at a minimum and, wherever possible, total
clean-up to current or foreseeable standards.

Rather than focusing solely on the technology aspects, and solving one
problem at the expense of another, aim for a co-ordinated overall solution.

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Sustainability Issues in Engineering

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Example I: Mobile Phones

Phases of life cycle of a mobile phone:

Sustainability and Engineering

Extraction and processing of raw materials

Components manufacture
Transport of components to assembly plant
Phone assembly
Transport of phones to distribution network

Use of phones
End of life

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Sustainability Issues in Engineering

Example II: Energy Challenge

Issues on energy:
Global energy use is dominated by fossil fuels
Demand of energy use is exponentially increased
Unequal distribution of energy use
Adverse impacts on global climate
Fast depletion of fossil fuel resources

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Definitions
Green Technology is the development and application of products,
equipment and systems used to conserve the natural environment and
resources, which minimises and reduces the negative impact of human
activities.
Renewable Energy is any form of primary energy from recurring Energy (RE)
and non-depleting resources, such as agricultural produce, hydro-power,
wind, solar etc.
Energy Efficiency is the efficient use of energy in a manner that Efficiency
(EE) utilises less energy for producing the same output.

Social, technical and political issues on usage of nuclear energy

Constraints on other sources of renewable energy

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SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS: Green

Buildings

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Guy (1997) outlines five varying visions of green buildings that are found
throughout society

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Overall policy framework declares that energy services must aim to achieve:
environmental sustainability

the ecological, smart, comfort, aesthetic and community visions

a continuing improvement in our energy efficiency

a progressive transition to renewable sources of energy

GREEN BUILDING CONCEPT (GBI) IN MALAYSIA

the lowest possible costs and prices to consumers

prices that reflect the full costs of supply, including environmental costs
reliable and secure supplies of essential energy services
fairness in pricing, so that the least advantaged in the community have
access to energy services at reasonable prices

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SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION

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In the near future, a variety of techniques will be needed to manage traffic

demand, including:

SUSTAINABLE WATER
Engineers must also consider when and where sustainable water services
can be achieved and what water infrastructure is required in the local,
regional and national contexts.

land use planning to deter urban sprawl

road tolling techniques, including congestion
parking supply management and pricing fuel
high occupancy vehicle lanes
more support for walking and cycling

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SUSTAINABLE SOLID WASTE

MANAGEMENT
Solid wastes (any material, solid, liquid or gas that is unwanted and or
unvalued, and discarded or discharged by its owner) are placing
increasing pressure on the various waste sinks in our environment that are
currently used to accommodate them.

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Sustainable Development in
Malaysia

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The Government of Malaysia offers attractive incentives to

encourage the generation of Renewable Energy (RE) and the
adoption of Energy Efficiency (EE) initiatives as well as for
improvement of Power Quality (PQ) amongst energy producers
and users in Malaysia and to ensure sustained national economic
development for the future. The Ministry of Energy, Green
Technology and Water (MEGTW) is responsible for the
implementation of national policies relating to RE and EE and
desires to accelerate the adoption of RE and EE initiatives in the
country and the provision of high quality power where required.

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Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water

Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia (KeTTHA) was established on 9 April 2009

Vision

Mission

Industry leader in the Sustainable Development of Energy and the National Water and Green Technology.

To formulate policies and establish the legal framework and effective regulation;
Setting the direction for the energy industry, green technologies and the water industry in line with national
development goals and
Develop an efficient management system and an effective monitoring mechanism.

Objectives
Ensure the implementation of development policies in the power industry, water and green technology
effectively;

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Malaysia Green Technology

Corporation

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Malaysia Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) formerly known

as Pusat Tenaga Malaysia (PTM) was established on 12th May 1998. GreenTech
Malaysia, registered as an independent and non-for-profit organization for
energy research in Malaysia under the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology
and Water.

To provide a conducive environment for industrial development and technology;

Provide research and development (R & D) continued to increase in the use of technology;

Ensure service delivery system that is efficient, effective and affordable;

Ensuring that the regulatory mechanisms implemented in accordance with the provisions of existing
legislation and

Improving the ability of the organization on an ongoing basis to achieve the industry and green
technologies.

Incentives And Financial Support In

Green Technology
In the announcement of Budget 2010, the Government has allocated RM1.5
billion as a soft loans to manufacturers and nationwide consumers through the
Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS)
Building owners who have been certified the Green Building Index (GBI) from
24th October 2009 to 31st December 2014 will be granted for the income tax
exemption which is equal to the additional capital expenditure to obtain the
certificate;

Implementing Agency in Green Technology

National Lead Manager in the development of Green Technology
Promoting green technology initiatives and programs

Home buyers who had received the GBI certificate from the developer property
will be given duty stamp exemption on documents of transfer; and

Focal point to set standards and database

Coordinating the research, development and application related to national Green

Technology development

The amount of exemption is equal to the additional cost to obtain the

certificate. This exemption is qualified for buyers who have completed the sale
and purchase of agreement from 24th October 2009 to 31st December 2014.

The new scope was the expansion of one-stop centre functions previously
carried out.

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Ensure the provision of comprehensive infrastructure, an integrated, standards and quality;

To promote the development of green technology activities, the Government:

GreenTech Malaysia functions are:

Lets make a difference to the

world - through sustainable
development
based upon wise practice of
engineering

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References
Past lecture notes of COEB422 on Sustainability by Assoc Prof Dr. Ir. Lariyah
Mohd. Sidek & Assoc Prof Dr Ir Faris Tarlochan.
Past lecture notes of COEB422 on Sustainability Principles by Assoc Prof. Dr
Ir Au Mau Teng.

Other Resources
Handbook: Incentives for Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency & Green
Buildings in Malaysia by KeTTHA (2009)
Sustainable Development Initiatives in Malaysia (2010), Malaysia
Productivity Corporation (MPC) http://www.mpc.gov.my/mpc
THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE (2009), International Institute of
Sustainable Development
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2009/sd_timeline_2009.pdf