Teaching Sustainability in Engineering

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Sustainability issues are inherently interdisciplinary. See the Resources & Discussions page for resources that span multiple disciplines and the Disciplinary Perspectives pages.

• Manufacturing
• Water supply
• Transportation
• Energy
• Buildings
• Waste management

Sustainability can be addressed in many different types of courses, from Engineering 101 to advanced graduate-level classes. Thus, there are many pathways to introduce sustainability themes into a wide range of topics. One place to help you get started is Engineering for One Planet. It includes a framework and teaching guides and maps to accreditation criteria and sustainable development goals.

Activities

Investigative Case: Goodbye Honey Buckets

Solar Power: Using Lab Measurements to Determine the Feasibility of a Photovoltaic Panel

HydroViz: Virtual Hydrologic Observatory

Center for Sustainable Engineering Electronic Library Center for Sustainable Engineering.
A searchable collection of lesson plans, case studies and course descriptions related to sustainable engineering.

Textbooks

The Theory and Practice of Sustainable Engineering
An undergraduate textbook that puts Engineering into a "cultural, social, institutional, and environmental context." The Theory and Practice of Sustainable Engineering Allenby, Braden R. 2012, Prentice Hall.

Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical Processes

This open source textbook covers "green" pollution prevention and waste management techniques with a focus on minimizing environmental impacts. For upper level undergraduate courses in Chemical, Environmental or Civil Engineering. Follows EPA and ABET/AICHE requirements on environment, health and safety. Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical Processes Allen, David T. et. al., 2002, Prentice Hall. Webpage last updated 2025

K-12

Investigating Neighborhood Wetlands: Can Floods be Controlled?

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Engineering Subject Centre at The Higher Education Academy
Works with engineering professionals to ensure "the long term health of the engineering profession." The HEA is a UK-based organization dedicated to improving higher learning across all disciplines.

Rocky Mountain Institute (more info)
A nonprofit, RMI seeks to "drive the business-led transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables by 2050." They are a self described "think-and-do tank," with the goals of spreading innovation and promoting integrative design through projects like Factor 10 Engineering. RMI's archives contain resources on many engineering-related topics.

• American Society for Engineering Education's Statement on Sustainable Development Education states that engineering graduates must be prepared by their education to use sustainable engineering techniques in the practice of their profession and to take leadership roles in facilitating sustainable development in their communities.
• The American Society of Civil Engineers offers a variety of tools and resourcesrelated to sustainability in civil engineering. Its Statement on the Role of the Civil Engineer in Sustainable Development sets an expectation that civil engineers will demonstrate a commitment to sustainability principles.
• The Center for Sustainable Engineering (CSE) offers workshops, a curriculum assessment, and educational materials to enhance sustainable engineering in higher education.
• Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) works to build a more sustainable world through technical hands-on projects. It supports a network of collegiate chapters and connects students with professionals through a mentorship program. 

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