The Natural Edge Project The Natural Advantage of Nations Whole System Design Factor 5 Cents and Sustainability




"TNEP have once again brought a world-leading and inspirational author and practitioner to Australia - this time Janine Benyus, a truly remarkable scientist, creating biological inspirations for the "hard" sciences. Just as we now need social scientists at our side, so too it seems, biology and biologists must play a part in our engineering practice."
Philip Bangerter, Global Director-Sustainability, Hatch Associates



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Welcome to the TNEP Engineering Sustainable Solutions Program

Recognising that the engineering, scientific and design professions will play a significant part in moving society to a more sustainable way of life, together with the realisation that we have very little time to prepare, this program seeks to contribute open source peer reviewed education material to assist efforts globally to accelerate education for sustainable development in engineering and the built environment.

Quick Links to the currently completed courses;

E-Waste Education Courses (more...)

Course 1: Senior High School Level Learning
 
  Lecture 2: Digital Delights - Consumers and E-Products (Summary)
  Lecture 3: E-Product Jujitsu - Shifting Design Methodologies (Summary)
 
Course 2: First Year Undergraduate Level Learning
 
  Lecture 2: Dealing with E-Waste - Real Challenges (Summary)
  Lecture 3: A Global Movement - Who is Doing What and Where? (Summary)

 

Introduction to Sustainable Development for the Engineering and Built Environment Professions (more...)

Unit 1: A New Perspective
  Preliminaries and Keynote
  Lecture 1: The Call for Sustainable Development (Summary)
  Lecture 2: What has lead to a lack of Sustainability? (Summary)
  Lecture 3: Sustainability as a Driver of Innovation (Summary)
  Lecture 4: Emerging Technological Innovations (Summary)
 
Unit 2: Learning the Language
  Preliminaries and Keynote
  Lecture 5: Efficiency – Resource Productivity Improvement (Summary)
  Lecture 6: Role of ‘Systems’ for Sustainable Development (Summary)
  Lecture 7: The Concept of Biomimicry – An Historical Context (Summary)
  Lecture 8: Green Chemistry and Engineering – Benign by Design (Summary)
 
Unit 3: Preparing to Walk the Talk
  Preliminaries
  Lecture 9: Rethinking the Application of Engineering Principles (Summary)
  Lecture 10: Creating Value from Sustainable Development (Summary)
  Lecture 11: A Whole of Society Approach (Summary)
  Lecture 12: Effective Communication and Engagement (Summary)

 

Principles and Practices in Sustainable Development for the Engineering and Built Environment Professions (more...)

Unit 1: Redefining Roles
  Preliminaries
  Lecture 1: The Critical Role of Engineering (Summary)
  Lecture 2: Rethinking the Application of Engineering Design (Summary)
  Lecture 3: Broadening the Problem Definition (Summary)
  Lecture 4: Innovation to Achieve Factor 4-10 (Summary)
 
Unit 2: Efficiency/ Whole Systems
  Preliminaries
  Lecture 5: Efficiency – A Critical First Step towards Sustainability (Summary)
  Lecture 6: Engineering Efficiencies (Energy, Water, Materials) (Summary)
  Lecture 7: Whole of Systems Optimisation - Pipes and Pumps (Summary)
  Lecture 8: 10 Point Checklist to Whole Systems Design (Summary)
 
Unit 3: Biomimicry/ Green Chemistry
  Preliminaries
  Lecture 9: Design Inspired by Nature (Summary)
  Lecture 10: A Biomimetic Design Method and Information Sources (Summary)
  Lecture 11: Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering (Summary)
  Lecture 12: Green Chemistry In Practice: A Succinct Overview (Summary)

 

Design Transformed - Whole Systems Design for Climate Change Mitigation (more...)

Whole Systems Design Suite
  Unit 1: A Whole System Approach to Sustainable Design
  Unit 2: The Fundamentals of Systems Engineering to Inform a Whole System Approach
  Unit 3: Enhancing the Systems Engineering Process through a Whole System Approach to Sustainable Design
  Unit 4: Elements of Applying a Whole System Design Approach (Elements 1-5)
  Unit 5: Elements of Applying a Whole System Design Approach (Elements 6-10)
 
Worked Examples
 

Unit 6: Worked Example 1 - Industrial Pumping Systems
  Unit 7: Worked Example 2 - Passenger Vehicles
  Unit 8: Worked Example 3 - Electronics and Computer Systems
  Unit 9: Worked Example 4 - Temperature Control of Buildings
  Unit 10: Worked Example 5 - Domestic Water Systems

 

Energy Transformed - Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change Mitigation (more...)

Chapter 1: Climate Change Mitigation in Australia 's Energy Sector
  Lecture 1.1: Achieving a 60 percent Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
  Lecture 1.2: Carbon Down, Profits Up – Multiple Benefits for Australia of Energy Efficiency
  Lecture 1.3: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Technologies
  Lecture 1.4: A Whole Systems Approach to Energy Efficiency in New and Existing Systems
 
Chapter 2: Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Commercial Users
  Lecture 2.1: The Importance and Benefits of a Front-Loaded Design Process
  Lecture 2.2: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings
  Lecture 2.3: Opportunities for Improving the Efficiency of HVAC Systems
 
Chapter 3: Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Industrial Users
  Lecture 3.1: Opportunities for Improving the Efficiency of Motor Systems
  Lecture 3.2: Opportunities for Improving the Efficiency of Boiler and Steam Distribution Systems
  Lecture 3.3: Energy Efficiency Improvements available through Co-Generation
 
Chapter 4: Responding to Increasing Demand for Electricity
  Lecture 4.1: What Factors are Causing Rising Peak and Base Load Electricity Demand in Australia?
  Lecture 4.2: Demand Management Approaches to Reduce Rising ‘Peak Load’ Electricity Demand
  Lecture 4.3: Demand Management Approaches to Reduce Rising ‘Base Load’ Electricity Demand
  Lecture 4.4: Making Energy Efficiency Opportunities a Win-Win for Customers and the Utility: Decoupling Energy Utility Profits from Electricity Sales
 
Chapter 5: Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Large Energy Using Industry Sectors
  Lecture 5.1: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Aluminium, Steel and Cement Sectors
  Lecture 5.2: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Industries
  Lecture 5.3: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the IT Industry and Services Sector
 
Chapter 6: Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Light Industry and Commercial Sectors
  Lecture 6.1: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Tourism and Hospitality Sectors
  Lecture 6.2: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Food Processing and Retail Sector
  Lecture 6.3: Opportunities for Energy Efficiency in the Fast Food Industry
 
Chapter 7: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Low Emissions Electricity
  Lecture 7.1: Opportunities and Technologies to Produce Low Emission Electricity from Fossil Fuels
  Lecture 7.2: Can Renewable Energy Supply Peak Electricity Demand?
  Lecture 7.3: Can Renewable Energy Supply Base Electricity Demand?
  Lecture 7.4: Hidden Benefits of Distributed Generation to Supply Base Electricity Demand
 
Chapter 8: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Transport
  Lecture 8.1: Designing a Sustainable Transport Future
  Lecture 8.2: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Alternative Transport Fuels – Passenger Vehicles
  Lecture 8.3: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Alternative Transport Fuels - Trucking
 
Chapter 9: Integrated Approaches to Energy Efficiency and Distributed Energy
  Lecture 9.1: Residential Building Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Opportunities: Towards a Climate-Neutral Home
  Lecture 9.2: Commercial Building Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Opportunities: Towards Climate-Neutral Commercial Buildings
  Lecture 9.3: Beyond Energy Efficiency and Distributed Energy: Options to Offset Emissions
 

 

 

  
 

The Natural Edge Project Engineering Sustainable Solutions
Program is supported by the Australian National Commission
for UNESCO through the International Relations Grants
Program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.