3GE Collection on Engineering: Green Engineering

Green engineering approaches the design of products and processes by applying financially and technologically feasible processes and products in a manner that simultaneously decreases the amount of pollution that is generated by a source, minimizes exposures to potential hazards (including reducing toxicity and improved uses of matter and energy throughout the life cycle of the product and processes) as well as protecting human health without relinquishing the economic efficiency and viability. Nearly twenty years away from the first definition of sustainable development and sustainability sentences like ‘much remain to be done in the areas of sustainability’ or ‘the underlying science is still far from exact and we all still need to make a big effort’ are common introducing and/or concluding phrases in both literature and scientific forums. Hopefully, in the last years underlying science has been promoted and clarified and as a result of this a coloured variety of successful industrial and academic examples of sustainable products, processes, and production systems are now available.

Increasing use of fossil fuel to fulfill current energy demands alarm over the energy crisis has generated a revival of interest in encouraging renewable alternatives to meet the developing world’s growing energy needs. Excessive use of fossil fuels has caused global warming by carbon dioxide; therefore, renewable promotion of clean energy is eagerly needed. To examine emission of these greenhouse emissions an agreement was made with the overall pollution prevention targets. In this book, attempt has been made to find out the scope of renewable energy gadgets to meet out energy needs and mitigation potential of greenhouse gases mainly carbon dioxide.

Green Engineering offers insights into environmental risk-based deliberations in design of processes and products. It presents the importance of renewable sources of energy owing to the backdrop of fossil fuel dilemma. Major emphasis is placed on the use of alternative energy technologies. Some applications of renewable sources and future of energy is also discussed.

Today there are very few scientific, societal and political areas which have not been the subject of an examination based on sustainability criteria. It should be noted that sustainable development is a continuing process during which the definitions and activities it generates are in constant evolution. The evolutionary process which consists of reflecting on how we can ensure that our descendants have a decent future and assuming responsibility for our actions is in itself positive, although there is also the risk that theory will be put into practice in a number of different ways, creating a highly complex situation. This book provides a comprehensive review of the most popular green disruptive technologies in energy production as well as their economic impact.