Module 00- Micro-economy Kit

Chapter 2: Sustainability

Sustainability is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”  (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).

Sustainability occurs when all three pillars (social, economic, and environmental) are thriving!

Three Pillars Venn Diagram

Venn diagram with three sections: Environmental, Social, and Economic

For more information about the three pillars model for sustainability, check out the following resources:

Practice Exercise

Drag the components into the sections they correspond with:

Customer Needs – Sustainability

Majd Mashharawi was walking through her war-torn neighborhood in Gaza when an idea flashed in her mind: “What if she could take the rubble and transform it into building materials?”

How I made Bricks out of Ashes and Rubble _Ted Talks_Video Script [DOC]

OPTIONAL: A Sustainability Guide by Dassault System’s (c) (Solidworks)

The idea of “Sustainable Design” is cropping up more and more in today’s product design conversations. But what is sustainable design, and how do I do it? The Solidworks Sustainability Guide provides some answers to these questions.

Note:  Going through the entire Guide — and playing with some of the examples on Solidworks — should take about 5-7 hours, so it’s a good idea to pace yourself.

Did you complete the entire guide with Solidworks? You may be interested in taking the Solidworks CSWA-Sustainability Exam now.

“The completion of the Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Sustainability (CSWA-Sustainability) exam shows that you have successfully demonstrated your understanding of the principles of environmental assessment and sustainable design. Employers can be confident that an individual with this certification understands the principles of environmental assessment and sustainable design. “[1]


  1. Courtesy of Solidworks CSWA-Sustainability (c): https://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/14672_ENU_HTML.htm

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design Copyright © 2023 by Jacqulyn A. Baughman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.