ENV 6932: GREEN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY The University of Florida Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences

Professors: William A. Wallace Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences PHONE: (970) 879-1122 FAX: (970) 871-7923 EMAIL: bill.wallace@wallacefutures.com Office Hours: TBA

Teaching Asst: TBA Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences

EMAIL: TBA Office Hours: TBA

OVERVIEW: Over the last decade, the notion that societys current model for economic development is not sustainable has moved from extremist thinking into mainstream opinion. Resources, once thought of as effectively inexhaustible, are now seen as finite and increasingly scarce. Ecological carrying capacity, once thought of as essentially boundless and infinitely self-repairing, is now seen as limited and subject to damage by human activity, perhaps irreversibly. In response, design criteria for products, processes, facilities and associated infrastructure are expanding, bringing in broad environmental and social considerations as well as the traditional economic concerns. This course, Green Engineering Design and Sustainability, is designed to introduce the participants to this new and evolving form of engineering design. Aimed at upper-level undergraduate and entry-level graduate students, the course offers a systems-level approach to engineering design in which environmental aspects and social concerns are not seen as constraints, but as opportunities for improving resource efficiencies, cost savings and competitiveness. The overall goal of the course is to introduce the student not only to the concepts of sustainability, but the consequences of operating under a non-sustainable model of development. Effects on societies in 1st, 2nd and 3rd World nations is also presented along with their respective challenges and considerations in engineering design. How industry and government sectors have responded will also be address, as these institutions have and continue to make changes in engineering design and performance requirements. Students will become familiar with how these sectors are changing their approaches for engineering design to improve their sustainable performance. Tools such as sustainability metrics, life cycle assessment, energy auditing and carbon footprinting will be introduced. Finally, new techniques delivering projects that maximize contributions to sustainable performance will be introduced along with methodologies for whole systems design. Importantly, this course is designed to break the prevailing notion that adding so-called green features to an organization and its facilities and processes is an appropriate route towards conditions of sustainability. Achieving sustainability will be a long journey, requiring close attention not only to improved performance but to the chosen technological pathways.

OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE: 1. To introduce the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability in its proper form, separating them from the popularized and largely inaccurate notions about being green to ones that have a scientific and engineering basis. 2. To convey an understanding of what is really required to achieve conditions sustainability through principles such as The Natural Step, and Herman Dalys thermodynamic definitions of sustainability. Introduce the production-consumption flow model and the Five Capitals model as a way of thinking about sustainability. 3. To understand the trends and forces shaping our world induced by a non-sustainable economic model for growth and development. Offer a view the salient events in the development of our current concepts of sustainability. 4. To understand the effects of non-sustainability on the developed, developing and underdeveloped (Worlds 1, 2 and 3) nations of the world and learn about the engineering challenges specific to each. 5. To learn about the causes, effects and consequences of climate change including the its attendant controversies, and to place possible solutions in context with the Tragedy of the Commons problem, conserving commonly-shared resources. 6. To characterize the trends and drivers that are shaping industry and governmental response to the consequences of non-sustainability. 7. To observe the degree to which various industry and government sectors, cities and communities understand the issues and consequences of non-sustainable behavior and how they are responding. 8. To define and explore the principles of industrial ecology and by-product synergy and see how they are being applied. 9. To survey the current laws, regulations and standards that are being conceived and put in place to address the various dimensions of sustainability. 10. To comprehend and place in context the various systems for measuring sustainable performance. 11. To perform and gain experience in using the various tools and techniques available for designing and implementing energy conservation measures, conducting life cycle assessments, calculating carbon footprints, and more. 12. To understand performance and pathway contributions for improving sustainable performance on engineering projects. To learn how to increase opportunities for performance improvement. To understand the importance of setting performance goals that are restorative. 13. To learn how industries in various sectors are incorporating sustainability principles into their strategies and operations. 14. To apply whole systems design methodologies to sustainable engineering projects.

Instructor Bio: Bill Wallace

BillWallace
William A. (Bill) Wallace provides consulting services covering emerging trends and issues analysis, strategic planning and the development of profitable new ventures. He is a recognized industry leader in the field of sustainable development, serving on preparation of policies and guidance. He also assists public and private organizations apply sustainability principles to their operations. His book, Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineers Guide to Sustainable Development, has been labeled a best seller by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). Today, this book is used by companies as a resource for establishing practices in sustainable engineering. He is now working on a second book, the working title of which is Rational Sustainable Engineering: Pursuing Project Sustainability As If You Really Meant It. After retiring from CH2M HILL, Bill established his own consulting practice, providing consulting services in sustainable engineering to both U.S. and international clients. He has been a keynote speaker at professional society and trade association meetings and universities. His engagements included invited keynote presentations on sustainable engineering for the Carnegie Mellon University Spring 2009 Distinguished Lecture Series, and to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Board of Direction. Bill chairs International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDICs) Sustainable Development Committee and is the primary writer of FIDICs Project Sustainability Management Guidelines. These Guidelines are slated for publication and presentation in New Dehli, India in the fall of 2010. Bill also designed and acts as lead instructor in the highly acclaimed 4-day ACEC course, Green Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities. Contact information: William A. Wallace, President Wallace Futures Group, LLC 1400 Overlook Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA 80487 Tel +1(970)879-1122, Fax +1(970)871-7923, Mobile +1(970)819-2188 email: bill.wallace@wallacefutures.com