Classroom Card #4122
First year Civil and Environmental Engineering Project: The Circular Economy
Summary
Circular Economy principles help develop innovative approaches to sustainability.
Course
Course: 12 Units
Level: First Year Engineering Students
Number of Students: 60
Meeting Schedule: MF - 50 mins W- 80 mins
In this first-year project course, which aligns vertically with the capstone design course, students are exposed to the topics related to Civil & Environmental Engineering in a globally changing and challenged world, climate change adaptation, intelligent infrastructure, and sustainable development goals.
The students are introduced to the ethical responsibilities of Civil and Environmental Engineers, learn to solve engineering problems, and appreciate the value of a growth mindset, and lifelong learning as an engineer. There are three projects throughout the semester to help student develop skills to work effectively in teams. This project is one of the three.
Time
Four to eight weeks
Materials
- Waste management Intro Lessons (Provided as ppt). The intro lessons introduce Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Circular Economy.
- LCA Carnival (embedded through the ppt slides, 5 in-class activities named as LCA Activities LCA#1- LCA#5)
LCA#1: Skit
LCA #2: Flip Card Game
LCA #3: Line Up! Line Up!
LCA #4: Device Funeral
LCA #5: LCA Carnival Wrap up
- Access to Technical Writing Course and Students (optional)
- Access to Green Practices or Sustainability Group on campus
Prerequisites
NA
Description
Cradle-to-cradle (C2C) approach within Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) advocate for products and processes that mimic nature’s cycles. Unlike the traditional linear model, C2C emphasizes circular systems where materials are continuously reused and regenerated. A key principle includes “waste not, want not.” Understanding local waste streams is crucial for effective waste management. Solid waste must be characterized based on various factors such as quantity, density, size distribution, moisture content, and ash content. In our context, at our university, addressing waste streams involves analyzing campus and local Pittsburgh needs, applying creative thinking to ambiguous problems, and developing solutions aligned with C2C principles. The value proposition lies in turning waste into wealth and identifying unexpected opportunities to create value while minimizing waste. Implementing sustainable waste solutions requires further research, detailed planning, and coordination with our campus’s green practices committee further emphasizing connections.
Curiosity
- Demonstrate constant curiosity about our changing world
Explore waste management on campus and beyond with a commitment to sustainability through pollution prevention and waste reduction (LO3 and LO4).
Connections
- Integrate information from many sources to gain insight
Asses and recognize waste’s useful properties. Consult resources like facilities, AASHE, and ATLAS for guidance on best practices to integrate information (LO1-LO4).
Creating Value
- Identify unexpected opportunities to create extraordinary value
Present a value proposition to enable CMU to contribute significantly to a sustainable future, turning waste streams into wealth, and fostering an eco-friendly campus culture (LO5).
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