Nature thrives on diversity and flexibility, gaining strength from heterogeneity, whereas the quest for homogeneity seems to motivate much of modern engineering. Nature is non-linear and inherently promotes multiplicity of solutions. This new book presents new and original research on true sustainability and technology development.

Nature thrives on diversity and flexibility, gaining strength from heterogeneity, whereas the quest for homogeneity seems to motivate much of modern engineering. Nature is non-linear and inherently promotes multiplicity of solutions. This book presents lively analyses of urgent problems in nature science.

Nature thrives on diversity and flexibility, gaining strength from heterogeneity, whereas the quest for homogeneity seems to motivate much of modern engineering. Nature is non-linear and inherently promotes multiplicity of solutions. Modern applied science, however, continues to define problems as linearly as possible, promoting "single"-ness of solution, while particularly avoiding non-linear problems. Nature is inherently sustainable and promotes zero-waste, both in mass and energy. Engineering solutions today start with a "safety factor" while promoting an obsession with excess (hence, waste). Nature is truly transient, never showing any exact repeatability or steady state. Engineering today is obsessed with standards and replicability, always seeking "steady-state" solutions. This book promotes the approach that breaks out of the traditional path of linearizing natural phenomena and accepting research that is inherently pro-nature. This book offers the best hope of finally emulating nature rather than deviating from it.

Nature thrives on diversity and flexibility, gaining strength from heterogeneity, whereas the quest for homogeneity seems to motivate much of modern engineering. Nature is non-linear and inherently promotes multiplicity of solutions. Modern applied science, however, continues to define problems as linearly as possible, promoting "single"-ness of solution, while particularly avoiding non-linear problems. Nature is inherently sustainable and promotes zero-waste, both in mass and energy. Engineering solutions today start with a "safety factor" while promoting an obsession with excess (hence, waste). Nature is truly transient, never showing any exact repeatability or steady state. Engineering today is obsessed with standards and replicability, always seeking "steady-state" solutions. This book promotes the approach that breaks out of the traditional path of linearising natural phenomena and accepting research that is inherently pro-nature. This book offers the best hope of finally emulating nature rather than deviating from it.

Nature thrives on diversity and flexibility, gaining strength from heterogeneity, whereas the quest for homogeneity seems to motivate much of modern engineering. Nature is non-linear and inherently promotes multiplicity of solutions. This new and important book presents recent research on true sustainability and technology development from around the globe.

The word 'sustainability' is frequently misunderstood because there are numerous definitions of sustainability and not even two definitions have converging meanings. Instead of achieving 'sustainability', some of the sustainable development projects aggravate ecological and other problems, as painfully evidenced in numerous experimental projects. This book attempts to improve our understanding of what it means to be sustainable by exploring several different sustainability projects and techniques.

Is "zero waste engineering" possible? This book outlines how to achieve zero waste engineering, following natural pathways that are truly sustainable. Using methods that have been developed in various areas for sustainability purposes, such as new mathematical models, recyclable material selection, and renewable energy, the authors probe the principles of zero waste engineering and how it can be applied to construction, energy production, and many other areas of engineering. This groundbreaking new volume: Explores new scientific principles on which sustainability and zero waste engineering can be based Presents new models for energy efficiency, cooling processes, and natural chemical and material selection in industrial applications and business Explains how "green buildings" and "green homes" can be efficiently built and operated with zero waste Offers case histories and successful experiments in sustainability and zero-waste engineering Ideal for: Engineers and scientists of all industries, including the energy industry, construction, the process industries, and manufacturing. Chemical engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, petroleum engineers, process engineers, civil engineers, and many other types of engineers would all benefit from reading this exciting new volume.

Presents the research findings in modern technological developments based on synthetic chemicals that are highly toxic to the human environment. This book includes various types of appropriate energy technologies suitable for cooking, heating, lighting, transportation, and industrial usage.

There have been many books on the topic of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) over the last 100 years. They all, however, focus on how to recover more oil faster, taking a rather myopic approach. The solutions presented all work fantastically in theory and even in the laboratory, but each fails to produce results in the field with long-term success. The petroleum industry is almost resigned to the belief that for an EOR technique to be successful, it must be propped up with public funds or must compromise environmental integrity. In line with modern engineering practices, previous books discuss how existing technologies can be tweaked to accommodate for any shortcomings that just came to light. This book is unlike any other book on the topic of recovery in particular and engineering in general. This groundbreaking volume is a continuation of the author’s and his research group’s work that started publishing on the subject of global sustainability involving energy and the environment, dating back to early 2000s. Starting with a paradigm shift in engineering that involves a long-term focus, rather than looking for short-term solutions, the methods and theories presented here delve into applying green engineering and zero waste principles to EOR. Historically, EOR has received mixed success, mainly because innovations in these disciplines relied heavily on processed materials, which are both uneconomical and toxic to the environment. This book explains how engineers missed entirely the causes of unsustainability in these technologies due to the prevalence of many myths that are embedded in modern engineering. Once these myths are deconstructed, the appropriate technologies emerge and the merits of them both in terms of economic and environmental benefits become clear. The book reveals how previous practices in EOR can be replaced with their sustainable versions while saving in material costs. A number of innovative technologies are introduced that can render well known technologies, such as steam flood, in situ combustion, chemical flooding, and microbial EOR environmentally sustainable and economically attractive. A triple dividend is received once these technologies are applied in otherwise marginal reservoirs, unconventional plays and even abandoned formations. The overall reserve, which reflects recoverable oil with new technologies, goes up drastically. Further benefits are drawn when processes such as value addition of waste material is performed. Overall this book shows how EOR can be rendered green while increasing the profitability. This is in stark contrast to the past practices that considered environmental integrity as a drain on profitability. This book proves that a paradigm shift can turn a “technological disaster” into a technological marvel.

We all are users of technology and services, but the way we use them strongly depends on who our 'interlocutor' is: a machine, a software application or a person. The contributions of this volume look at the concept of the user from various perspectives and continue to discuss the theme started in volume three on the user of the artificial. Topics include: man-machine relations such as the user and the virtual world of the internet or users in various cultural contexts of the artificial. The second part of the book focuses on man-nature relations and introduces the Japanese concept of Kyosei (symbiosis) in the context of technology and the environment.