Edited IMRAD Popular Article Summary

Structural engineers are working to take a larger part in the subject of sustainable design. Stephen
H. Lucy, a professional engineer at JQ Civil Engineering firm, found that there is an increased demand by
industries and society to create greater efficiencies. Sustainability issues have become more prominent
with the development of organizations and committees looking to transform the way we think about the
planning and construction of new developments. New programs within the engineering realm such as
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Green Building Initiative (GBI), credit
companies for methods of adopting new environmental and sustainable processes. However, Lucy notes
that the sustainability success of a project should not be measured strictly upon these rating systems
because sustainable goals and opportunities should be project specific.
In order to relate structural design to the recommended use of sustainability, engineers must
ensure that the sustainable goals and building designs strive for higher levels of achievement. Lucy
argues that if we limit the way we think about the future of renewable energy, no significant change in the
terms of more efficient and environmentally-safe standards will be made. He prompts engineers to start
thinking outside the box to create new and innovative measures that will enhance and improve the
sustainable design trends of the future. This mind shift will need to reconsider the abilities of building
standards while still maintaining safe and reliable structures. What can and cannot be done within
construction must be established before the new ideas are originated thus to keep everything up to code.
Sustainable methods for preserving or reconstructing a building depend upon it's a structures future use
and costs. Saving a building from demolition and using its remain structure to build reduces the carbon
footprint construction creates and saves extra material. The role of reusing structures within the
engineering planning and building process is typically uncommon and yet as long as there are no safety
concerns with the structure, societys extensive supply of current buildings should be put to use.
Structural engineers cannot take a back seat on the planning of the future, Lucy says that they Structural
engineers must lead in order to progress in the field with new ideas. Environmental and efficiency
credentials are only half of the solution.