Questions and Answers of Sustainable Engineering

According to the Energy Information Administration, CO emissions in the USA in 2007 were 6.0218 billion metric tons (Gt). Calculate the land area that needs to be planted with trees to sequester this
The consumption of fossil fuels in 2005 was 7.5 Gt carbon. It has been estimated that 7000 g of ancient biomass was needed to form 1 g of fossil fuel. The current net primary productivity of the
State three requirements that are common to most definitions of sustainability?
Explain the challenges in determining whether an existing activity is sustainable. Why can sustainability only be known in retrospect or after the fact? Give illustrative examples to support your
The green revolution of the 1970s played a crucial role in satisfying global food requirements. It involved the development and adoption of new crop varieties and intensive agriculture. 1. Discuss
What is the Jevons paradox?
What is the food versus fuel conflict that was caused by the widespread adoption of biofuels?
On the basis of the history of chlorofluorocarbons described in Box 2.1.Box 2.1: Discuss how this technology resulted in unexpected impacts and shifting of problems from one domain to another. When
Reducing energy consumption per lumen of light is a tame problem, but lighting that reduces total energy consumption is a wicked problem. Explain why this statement is true.
State two characteristics of wicked problems.
Answer the following questions about the definitions of sustainability given in Box 3.1. Box 3.1: 1. Jefferson wrote, "Then, no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the
State the six requirements for the sustainability assessment of a new technology.
For the emerging technologies listed below, discuss whether they will result in any shifting of impacts or in exceeding nature's capacity to supply goods and services. 1. Electric cars. These cars
Since ecosystems are self-sustaining, many efforts are being made to develop industrial systems that emulate ecosystems. Describe how such mimicry may be developed, and what could be some of the key
A popular thermodynamic reference state used for many decades involves the composition of the atmosphere, the ocean, and the top few meters of the earth's crust. This reference state was devised when
The generation of thermal power requires a large quantity of water for cooling. In arid parts of the world, it is being suggested that power plants could use dry cooling or air cooling technology.
Conventional engineering focuses on developing technologies for improving efficiency. Explain how efforts toward more efficient light bulbs can result in unintended harm by failing to satisfy the
Explain the terms demand curve, marginal cost curve, and market equilibrium.
What is the present value of $100 of benefit available 50 years from now? You may use discount rates of 1 percent and 3 percent.
State three conditions that need to be satisfied for a free market to be optimally efficient.
Connect the concepts of economic externalities and tragedy of the commons to the problem of carbon emissions. How is the approach of pressure from shareholders on carbon-emitting companies a way of

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