CE OR Think Tank Research:

Enhancing critical thinking ability in Sustainable Engineering

Civil engineers have a leading role in planning, designing, building, and ensuring a sustainable future
by providing the bridge between science and society. They comprehend the intricate relationships
between population dynamics, resource availability, environmental quality, and the interconnected
effects thereof. These include the intensity of energy, water, land, and material consumption and the
emissions of pollutants and waste.

Embracing a sustainable engineering approach reaps rewards such as heightened material efficiency,
which involves reducing raw material inputs and minimizing waste production. It also
substituting hazardous materials with safer alternatives and designing
entails
service systems that minimize their environmental footprint.
According to American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE), sustainability is a set of economic,
environmental and social conditions in which all of society has the capacity and opportunity to
maintain and improve its quality of life indefinitely, without degrading the quantity, quality or the
availability of natural, economic and social resources.

Three Pillars: (1) environmental, (2)economic, and (3)social aspects.

The environmental aspects include use of natural resources, pollution prevention, biodiversity, and
ecological health. The social aspects include standards of living, availability of education and jobs,
and equal opportunities for all members of society. The economic factors are drivers for growth, profit,
reducing costs, and investments into research and development.

Examples of sustainable innovations:

1. TRUEGRID PERMEABLE PAVERS
2. ICF CONSTRUCTION FROM FOX BLOCKS
3. GREEN SPACES/GREEN BUILDINGS
4. ECO-FRIENDLY AESTHETICS
5. SOLAR PANELS
6. WASTE TO ENERGY RECYCLING
7. WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
8. WIND TURBINES
9. ELECTRIC CAR
10. SEA BINS
11. The development and implementation of technology innovations such as solar power, wind
power, hydropower, and other clean energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and
mitigate climate change.

Simple ways and real-life examples to achieve sustainability:

1. Clean water and sanitation: Such as learning to avoid wasting water
2. Climate action: Acting now to stop global warming
3. Life below water: Avoiding the use of plastic bags to keep the oceans clean
4. Life on land: Planting trees to help protect the environment
5. Responsible consumption and production: Recycling items such as paper, plastic, glass
and aluminum
6. Sustainable cities and communities: Biking, walking or using public transportation
7. Bringing a mug to use for coffee at work rather than the paper cups provided.
8. Using dish cloths or rags to clean up messes instead of paper towels or wipes.
9. Bringing reusable grocery bags to the store rather than taking plastic bags home.
10. Refilling a reusable water bottle instead of purchasing single-use bottled water.
 Discuss, Analyze, Suggest, and Defend:

1. Suppose you are living in a city which is populated with high-rise

residential buildings, and if in case another wave of pandemic hits the
country where people are prohibited to go outside. In what sustainable
way/s should you do to gather your own variety of nutritious food.

2. 80 percent of plastic water bottles end up in landfills. It takes up to

1,000 years for every single bottle to decompose. In what sustainable
way/s can you think of, to lessen this junk without harming the
environment?

3. How come electric cars are part of sustainable innovations? Explain.

4. How do construction industries benefit from permeable pavers?
5. One of the trends nowadays is the innovation of producing lightweight hollow blocks. When it
comes to strength, is this recommendable for residential buildings in typhoon-prone areas?
6. Does your barangay practice sustainability activity? How. Show some pictures and explain.
7. Does your school practice sustainability activity? How. Show some pictures and explain.
8. Why is it important to study Sustainability Engineering? How does it affect you.
9. What is its impact in our economy?
10. How does construction engineering management benefit from this sustainability?
11. List down some sustainable building material and how it is being used in construction.
12. According to Professor Charles J. Kibert, sustainable construction focuses on six principles:
“conserve, reuse, recycle/renew, protect nature, create nontoxic and high quality. From this six
principles, which do you think is the critical? Explain.
13. Is there/ are there any sustainable or eco-friendly cities in the Philippines? Where, and how do
they do it.
14. Is sustainable engineering innovation supposed to be expensive?
15. Is it considered sustainable if it is more expensive than the traditional method/product?

For additinal reference, you may visit:

https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/sustainable-construction

https://www.rappler.com/environment/64273-5-green-innovations-national-science-technology-
week/