Industrial Ecology and Its Role in Enhancing the Design for Energy Selection and Efficiency

Industrial ecology seeks options to lessen the environmental impact of industrial systems, through reducing natural resource use and waste generation, and by emulating the cycles that are utilized in ecosystems and nature. Design facets of energy selection and energy efficiency, which are key parts of Design for Environment and thus important considerations in industrial ecology, are described. The explanations and descriptions are supported by background material on energy and its conversion. Then, energy use is discussed, and its many impacts on the environment described. Efficiencies and other measures of merit for energy use are presented, and design for energy selection and design for energy efficiency are described, highlighting energy-related design factors for industrial ecology. Finally an example is presented, to illustrate the ideas raised in the article and to show the extent to which enhancements are possible through directed and strategic efforts.