Sustainable Engineering

Structural engineers face significant challenges in the 21st century and among them, global environmental challenges must be a priority for our profession. On a planet with finite natural resources and an ever-growing built environment, engineers of the future must consider the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of structural design. To achieve a more sustainable built environment, engineers must be involved at every stage of the process. To address the broad issue of sustainability for structural engineers, this paper is divided into three sections: (1) Global environmental impact, (2) solutions for today, (3) challenges for the future. In summary, the paper identifies the global sustainability challenges facing our profession and suggests possible solutions. The conclusion is that structural engineering has an enormous global environmental impact and our profession should work harder to offer solutions to society. Working for a more sustainable built environment is in the best interest of our profession as well as the interest of future generations.