Sustainability
Sustainability, in a broad sense, is the ability to maintain a certain process or state. For a society to live sustainably (to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs), its natural resources must be used at or below a rate at which they can be replenished. Additionally, and especially where successful sustainable development is concerned, the environmental impacts must also be balanced with the social and economic impacts.
When considering sustainable engineering, it is not enough to simply install a water well with a solar-powered pump in a community for example. We must first determine whether this particular technology is actually appropriate for this particular community by asking the following questions:
1. Do community members possess the desire, tools, and resources to maintain this system indefinately?
2. Is it possible to educate the community on how to maintain the system? (Can they fully comprehend the technical concepts of batteries, electrical components, solar panels, and pump components?)
3. How will implementation affect the social situation of community members? (Will it shorten the current walking distance required to collect water, thereby allowing children a better opportunity to attend school? Could it cause a "water war")
4. How will implementation affect the economic situation of community members? (Might access to this water source indirectly increase family income? Could maintenance end up being a significant monetary drain on the community?)
5. What are the possible health and environmental impacts? (Would the proposed well location be susceptible to fecal or parasitic contamination? Will the well water be cleaner than the current source, thereby improving the health of the community?)
6. Will the community truly benefit in the long-run?
If answers to any of these questions are found to be unsatisfactory, then more appropriate alternatives must be considered.
With an ever-increasing world population, economic globalization, the continuing depletion of natural resources, and today's popular interest in renewable energy, sustainability is now more important than ever. EWB-Atlanta recognizes the integral role that sustainable engineering plays in the successful development of an impoverished society. In fact, it is the underlying principal that guides us through the assessment, design, and implementation phase of any project we undertake.
Sustainable Engineering Technologies Resource List
(Regularly Updated)
Filter Pure Ceramic Water Filters www.filterpurefilters.org
Play Pumps www.playpumps.org