Environmental Industry

Overview

Environmental Industry focus on Environmental Civil Engineering and Environmental Chemical Engineering

Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineering is the integration of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation (house or home) and for other organisms, and to remediate pollution sites. Further more it is concerned with finding plausible solutions in the field of public health, such arthropod-borne diseases, implementing law which promote adequate sanitation in urban, rural and recreational areas. It involves waste water management and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, environmental sustainability, and public health issues as well as a knowledge of environmental engineering law. It also includes studies on the environmental impact of proposed construction projects.

Study of Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineers study the effect of technological advances on the environment. To do so, they conduct hazardous-waste management studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advise on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. Environmental engineers also design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems[1][2] as well as address local and worldwide environmental issues such as the effects of acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution from automobile exhausts and industrial sources.[3][4][5][6] At many universities,

Environmental Engineering programs follow either the Department of Civil Engineering or The Department of Chemical Engineering at Engineering faculties. Environmental "civil" engineers focus on hydrology, water resources management, bioremediation, and water treatment plant design. Environmental "chemical" engineers, on the other hand, focus on environmental chemistry, advanced air and water treatment technologies and separation processes.

Environmental Industry

The term environmental industry[1] was defined in 1988 by Environmental Business International Inc.[2](EBI) as all revenue generation associated with environmental protection, assessment, compliance with environmental regulations, pollution control, waste management, remediation of contaminated property and the provision and delivery of environmental resources.

This 14-segment definition and quantification of the environmental industry has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Statistical Abstract [3], OECD[4], U.S. International Trade Commission[5] and other government and private sources. This is partly because environmental goods and services have been inadequately covered in standard international classification systems like the former Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and currently used North American Industry Classification (NAIC) codes.[6]

Global Environmental Industry

The environmental industry represented total revenues of more than $315 billion in 2010, generated by about 30,000 private sector companies and more than 80,000 public sector entities in the United States, employing 1,657,300 Americans.[7]

The global environmental market was approximately $803 billion in 2010

Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI)

Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI) is a publishing and research company that generates strategic market intelligence on emerging opportunities in the:

Climate Change IndustryThe Green EconomyEnvironmental IndustryHealth & Wellness Market

Global Environmental Industry

The environmental industry represented total revenues of more than $315 billion in 2010, generated by about 30,000 private sector companies and more than 80,000 public sector entities in the United States, employing 1,657,300 Americans.[7]

The global environmental market was approximately $803 billion in 2010

Environmental Industry Segments

The environmental industry is comprised of 14 segments[9] of business activity divided into three broad categories: services, equipment and resources. Both private and public sector revenues are counted as part of the environmental industry. In some cases, the estimate may not be actual revenues generated by the public sector but total cost allocation to a function like wastewater treatment that may be only covered 60-70% by user fees.

Segment Description Examples of Clients

Environmental Services (Environmentally Preferable Services)

Environmental Testing & Analytical Services

Provide testing of "environmental samples" (soil, water, air and some biological tissues)

Regulated industries, Gov't, C&E, Hazardous waste and remediation contractors

Wastewater Treatment Works

Collection and treatment of residential, commercial and industrial wastewaters. Facilities are commonly know as POTWs or publicly owned treatment works.

Municipalities, Commercial Establishments & All industries

Solid Waste ManagementCollection, processing and disposal of solid waste

Municipalities & All industries

Environmental Industry Segments

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Segment Description Examples of Clients

Hazardous Waste ManagementCollection, processing and disposal of hazardous, medical waste, nuclear waste

Chemical/Petroleum Manufacturers and Government agencies

Remediation/Industrial ServicesCleanup of contaminated sites, buildings and environmental cleaning of operating facilities

Government agencies, Property owners, Industry

Environmental Consulting & Engineering (C&E)

Engineering, consulting, design, assessment, permitting, project management, O&M, monitoring, etc.

Industry, Government, Municipalities, Waste Mgmt. companies, POTWs

Environmental Equipment (Environmentally Preferable Goods)

Water Equipment & Chemicals

Provide equipment, supplies and maintenance in the delivery and treatment of water and wastewater.

Municipalities & All industries

Instruments & Information Systems

Produce instrumentation for the analysis of environmental samples. Includes info systems and software.

Analytical services, Government Regulated companies

Segment Description Examples of Clients

Air Pollution Control EquipmentProduce equipment and tech. to control air pollution. Includes vehicle controls.

Utilities, Waste-to-energy Industries, Auto industry

Waste Management Equipment

Equipment for handling, storing or transporting solid, liquid or haz waste. Includes recycling/remediation equipment.

Municipalities, Generating industries, Solid waste companies

Process & Prevention TechnologyTechnology for in-process pollution prevention and waste recovery

All industries

Environmental Resources (can also be services; or equipment for renewable energy)

Water Utilities Selling water to end usersConsumers, Municipalities & All industries

Resource RecoverySelling materials recovered and converted from industrial by-products or post-consumer waste

Municipalities, Generating industries, Solid waste companies

Segment Description Examples of Clients

Clean Energy Power & Systems

Selling power and systems in solar, wind, geothermal, small scale hydro, energy efficiency and DSM

Utilities, All industries and consumers

Environmental Consumer Goods (Environmentally Preferable Products or EPPs)

Sustainable Agriculture Products

Agricultural products or finished food products derived from certified organic materials and processes.

Consumers, Food manufacturing companies, Food service companies

Sustainable Forestry ProductsTimber or finished forest products derived from certified sustainable forestry programs.

Consumers, Manufacturers

Eco-Tourism

Tourism revenues derived from certified eco-tourism locations that minimize 'environmental footprint' in transportation and lodging facilities

Consumers

Environmental technology

1 Recycling2 Renewable energy3 Water purification4 Air purification5 Sewage treatment6 Environmental remediation7 Solid waste management8 eGain forecasting9 Energy conservation

Environmental technology (envirotech), green technology (greentech) or clean technology (cleantech) is the application of one or more of environmental science, green chemistry, environmental monitoring and electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement. The term is also used to describe sustainable energy generation technologies such as photovoltaics, wind turbines, bioreactors, etc. Sustainable development is the core of environmental technologies. The term environmental technologies is also used to describe a class of electronic devices that can promote sustainable management of resources.

Environmental technologies Includes

Biofiltration Bioreactor Biosphere Technology BioremediationDesalination Doubly fed electric machineEnergy conservation Energy saving modules Electric vehicles

Wave energy Green computing Hydroelectricity Wind powerWind turbine Hydrogen fuel cell Ocean thermal energy conversion Solar powerPhotovoltaic Thermal depolymerization Composting toilet

Recycling

Recycling consumer waste 1 Collection 2 SortingRecycling industrial waste 1.e-Waste recycling2 Plastic recyclingRecycling codesRecyclables in landfills

Recycling is a process to change materials (waste) into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to plastic production.[1][2] Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy

Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste—such as food or garden waste—is not typically considered recycling.[2] Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.

Renewable energyRenewable energy is energy that can be replenished easily. For years we have been using sources like wood, sun, water, etc. for means for producing energy. Energy that can be produced by natural objects like wood, sun, wind, etc. is considered to be renewable.[1]

Water purificationWater purification: The whole idea/concept of having dirt/germ/pollution free water flowing throughout the environment. Many other phenomena lead from this concept of purification of water. Water pollution is the main enemy of this concept, and various campaigns and activists have been organized around the world to help purify water.[2]

Air purificationAir purification: Basic and common green plants can be grown indoors to keep air fresh because all plants remove CO2 and convert it into oxygen. The best examples are: Dypsis lutescens, Sansevieria trifasciata, and Epipremnum aureum.[3] Sewage treatmentSewage treatment is conceptually similar to water purification. Sewage treatments are very important as they purify water per levels of its pollution. The more polluted water is not used for anything, and the least polluted water is supplied to places where water is used affluently. It may lead to various other concepts of environmental protection, sustainability etc

Environmental remediationEnvironmental remediation is the removal of pollutants or contaminants for the general protection of the environment. This is accomplished by various chemical, biological, and bulk movement. (encyclopedia of medical concepts)[5]

Solid waste managementSolid waste management is the purification, consumption, reuse, disposal and treatment of solid waste that is undertaken by the government or the ruling bodies of a city/town.[6]

eGain forecastingEgain forecasting is a method using forecasting technology to predict the future weather's impact on a building.[7] By adjusting the heat based on the weather forecast, the system eliminates redundant use of heat, thus reducing the energy consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases.[8]

Energy conservationEnergy conservation is the utilization of devices that require smaller amounts of energy in order to reduce the consumption of electricity. Reducing the use of electricity causes less fossil fuels to be burned to provide that electricity.

.Alternative and clean power

Principles:Green syndicalismSustainabilitySustainable designSustainable engineering

Scientists continue to search for clean energy alternatives to our current power production methods. Some technologies such as anaerobic digestion produce renewable energy from waste materials. The global reduction of greenhouse gases is dependent on the adoption of energy conservation technologies at industrial level as well as this clean energy generation. That includes using unleaded gasoline, solar energy and alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles.