Should engineering students consider environmental impact when designing products or systems?
Yes. Engineering students should consider environmental impacts during design, alongside performance, safety, and cost. This includes examining resource and energy use and impacts from manufacturing through disposal. Possible approaches include choosing materials carefully, improving energy efficiency and product life, and making products easier to repair, reuse, or recycle. However, the topics emphasized and learning opportunities vary by university, department, and course.
Key points
- Consider environmental effects across the product or system’s life cycle.
- Relevant factors include materials, energy efficiency, durability, and repair, reuse, or recycling.
- Environmental considerations should be balanced with safety, performance, cost, and applicable regulations.
Things to check
- Specific course content and methods vary by university, department, and academic year, so students should check official curriculum information.