Definitions of Green Engineering - Essay Example

Green engineering is basically an attempt to find a why between complex engineering processes and the need of securing the environment. It can also be used a pedagogical tool by incorporating broader environmental issues into scientific analyses (Shonnard, Allen, Nguyen, Austin, and Hesketh 5453). Considering the importance of green engineering for environmental sustainability, most of the educational institutes have also started to incorporate a combination of green engineering principles and scientific training into engineering education.

The aim is to make students and future engineers able to save the environment by adopting the concept of green engineering based on effective mathematic techniques and unique scientific principles. This paper describes three main conceptual frameworks of green engineering in detail to know the similarities and differences between them. The aim is to come up with a proper definition of green engineering based on which engineers can base their engineering designs and plans. The thesis statement for the paper is, ‘Whatever conceptual framework is adopted for green engineering design, the underlying aim in all of them is to cater to the needs of the sustainable environment and those of the community’. . To me, McDonough and Braungart, in Cradle to Cradle, seem to be emphasizing on the production of such products that are less harmful for the environment upon becoming useless for people.

They speak for the concept of ‘upcycling’ and suggest designers to keep in mind the ecological compatibility, as well as the environmental consequences of products. However, designers need to put a great effort to meet all demands of the Cradle to Cradle framework. The reason is that, at present, there is not much emphasis on redesigning or restructuring the design and development processes and in order to go with the Cradle to Cradle framework, designers need to transform all processes of product design and development completely to make them compatible with the needs of sustainable environment.

I would say that the aim of McDonough and Braungart in Cradle to Cradle is obviously to create and maintain the natural environment by minimizing the effects of industrial products when they become useless. They have focused on the need to change the current system because it can produce disastrous effects for the ecosystem. Obviously, the aim of zero waste cannot be achieved under current system not only because of changing human needs and demands regarding products but also because of industrial processes of product development that produce waste some way or other.

However, manufacturing of products in such a way that they can be recycled upon reaching maximum life can be a substitute for the aim of achieving zero waste (McDonough and Braungart 42). Therefore, engineers should adopt such methods of manufacturing that should make the products recyclable and eco-friendly. Anastas and Zimmerman, on the