CIE 551LEC - Industrial Ecology

Like a natural ecosystem where one organism’s waste is a resource (food) for another organism, industrial ecology aims to facilitate an ecosystem of industries for minimizing the overall waste through symbiotic relationships between various industries. In this course, the students will learn the analytical tools and methods, such as life cycle assessment (LCA), ecological footprint analysis, life cycle cost analysis, and other sustainability metrics, for implementing the principles of industrial ecology. Life cycle design, which focuses on integrating environmental considerations into product design, will be covered in the later part of this course. Successful completion of this course will enable the students to think holistically about the life cycle of a product or a process, leading to a sustainable design. Credits: 3