Doing More with Less - Improving the Environment through Green Engineering

Doing More with Less

Improving the Environment through Green Engineering

Arnulf Grubler

RP-06-005

April 2006

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis • Schlossplatz 1 • A-2361 Laxenburg • Austria Tel: (+43 2236) 807 • Fax: (+43 2236) 71313 • E-mail: publications@iiasa.ac.at • Web: www.iiasa.ac.at

Doing More with Less

Improving the Environment through Green Engineering

Arnulf Grubler

International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria

RP-06-005 April 2006

Reprinted from Environment 48(2), pp. 22–37, March 2006.

IIASA Reprints make research conducted at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis more accessible to a wider audience. They reprint independently reviewed articles that have been previously published in journals. Views or opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Institute, its National Member Organizations, or other organizations supporting the work.

Reprinted with permission from Environment 48(2), pp. 22–37, March 2006.

Copyright © Heldref Publications, March 2006.

http://www.heldref.org/env.php

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

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METABOLISM 6ASTLY IMPROVED PRODUCTIV ITY LEADING TO NEW BETTER AND CHEAPER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IS AT THE HEART OF THE TREMENDOUS OUTPUT GROWTH THAT HAS LED TO CURRENT CONCERNS OF ENVIRON MENTALSUSTAINABILITY)MPROVEDMATERIALS ANDINCREASEDENVIRONMENTALPRODUCTIVITY HAVE SUBSTANTIALLY LESSENED THE ENVIRON MENTAL IMPACTS OF OUTPUT GROWTH EVEN IF TO DATE OUTPUT GROWTH HAS GENERALLY OUTSTRIPPED IMPROVEMENTS "UT THE FACT THATTHESEIMPROVEMENTSHAVETAKENPLACE FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND REGULATIONGIVESREASONSFORCAUTIOUSOPTI MISM'IVENAPPROPRIATEINCENTIVESFROM WITHIN THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY AND FROM SOCIETY AT LARGE HISTORICAL MATERIAL ANDENVIRONMENTALPRODUCTIVITYIMPROVE

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4HE SIX GREEN ENGINEERING PARADOXES EXPLORED HERE HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF LARGE SYSTEM BOUNDARIES AND THE USE OFMULTIPLECRITERIAFORDESIGNANDIMPLE MENTATIONOFGREENENGINEERINGSOLUTIONS

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