L16 Industrial Ecology

Question 1

What is Industrial Ecology?

Answer 1

• the ecology of industrial systems
  -the study of interactions b/w diff industrial systems and b/w industrial systems and ecological systems
• industrial systems are treated as a subsystem within an ecosystem
• Energy + raw materials -> manufacturing facility -> product + residuals

Question 2

Motivation for Industrial Ecology

Answer 2

• Initially to reduce environmental impacts of industrial processes
• Now also includes effects of non-industrial consumption activities
  – e.g., food, housing, transportation

Question 3

How do industrial systems emulate ecosystems?

Answer 3

• using renewable resources
  -reduces -ve enviro impacts
  -reduce waste material and energy
  -high degree of interconnectedness

Question 4

What aspects of Industrial Ecology do we want to balance?

Answer 4

It is an approach to design or products and processes that evaluates them through product competitiveness and environmental interactions (want to balance them)

Question 5

Environmental Interactions:

Answer 5

• ecological resources = economic value
• damaging environment = increase product cost
• long term sustainability of raw materials = reasonable cost

Question 6

How can engineering systems be applied to industrial ecology?

Answer 6

• conservation of mass and energy = use waste from one process as material for another (interrelated :))
• pollution prevention = optimize operations

Question 7

2 important tools for industrial ecology:

Answer 7

1) Pollution Prevention
– optimize process operations within and around a facility
2) Life Cycle Assessment
– more holistic
– consider use of product