Green engineering is designing products to conserve natural resources and minimize environmental impact. It can be applied to housing, automobiles, and other systems. Countries offer incentives for green engineering. LEED certification is a standard for buildings. Green engineering can also apply to cars.
Green engineering is the process and design of products that conserve natural resources and affect the natural environment as little as possible. The term is often applied to housing construction, but can be used for automobiles, lights, or any other type of system or device that requires engineering and incorporates sound environmental principles. While green engineering is somewhat more expensive, many countries, recognizing the value of such work, have begun offering tax breaks and other incentives to those who incorporate its use.
Green engineers often have specific training in the field, perhaps taking special courses to understand how materials and other components can be made in an environmentally friendly way. For example, engineers and architects interested in home design can learn about the latest materials and construction techniques. This can include the use of solar-powered appliances, especially water heaters, solar or window lights, and other design elements.
For those who are constructing a new building or home, the best time to start the green engineering process is at the very beginning. Retrofitting a building with environmentally friendly design concepts is possible, but it’s not as efficient or seamless as having those features built in initially. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to communicate the desire for green design and technology from the outset.
For buildings, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a standard that many new buildings strive to achieve. This means that the building uses a significant amount of green engineering. While this certification is not required by any government agency, those buildings that receive the certification are often considered a standard for others to follow. Some landlords may even offer bonuses if a building becomes LEED certified.
There are a number of evaluation criteria evaluated for LEED certification. Some of these include green engineering and design process, materials used, indoor air quality and water efficiency, among others. These are judged individually and will include not only design elements in the building, but elements external to the building, such as the sprinkler system and other landscaping features.
In other areas, green engineering can apply to what is done with cars. The current design concepts used in automobiles considered environmentally friendly are hybrid technologies, flex-fuel vehicles, and even electricity. The future could provide opportunities for fuel cell vehicles and other transportation technologies. While the price of these vehicles, just like homes, is initially higher, some states offer incentives. Also, consuming less energy means there is the potential to realize cost savings in operating these vehicles over time.
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