Technology and Industrial Development: Moving

towards Sustainable Development  

Karishma Bhatnagar

Content

• Background• Article• Interesting points• Key take away points• Personal Assessment • Issues for discussion

Background

Industrial Development

The introduction and implementation of technology into the business processes of a company to make them more efficient to carry out on a large scale while incurring the minimal cost.

Sustainable Development

This development aims to reduce the negative impact on the environment and carry out operations which affect the environment minimally.

Article

Keeping Industrial Plants Cool and Fish Alive

Large industrial facilities such as:• chemical manufacturing plants • petroleum refineries • thermal electric power plantsUse nearby bodies of water to cool

down their machinery

Keeping Industrial Plants Cool and Fish Alive

Fish and other marine organisms are affected by the process.

As the plants draw millions of gallons of water from water bodies, they suck fish and their eggs into the plant or factory’s cooling system, where the marine organisms are usually killed by heat, physical stress or chemical exposure.

Problem | Solution

Environmental Protection Agency

“any standard for cooling water established shall require that the location, design, construction and capacity of cooling water intake structures reflects the best technology available for minimizing adverse environmental impact”

Problem | Solution

 Clean Water Act“mandates all thermal electric generating plants nationwide to switch over to so-called closed-cycle cooling systems”

Electric Power Research Institute “cost the industry an estimated $100 billion”

Interesting points

• Been debated on for the past 40 years

• Major issue for many industries as it means either being environmentally sustainable or having a profitable business process.

• choosing the best technology available and affordable for alternative solution

Key Take away points

• Economic sustainability versus Environmental sustainability

• Industries urgent need to find alternative solutions for activities that have been destroying the environment

• Debated for 40 years so sustainable development in industries is not an new issue but rather recently got more emphasis.

Personal Assessment

I would rate this article a 6/10.It was a very informative article but it

failed to give more information and updates on the other possible solutions they industries are pushing for and can possible implement.

Also, no views on the pending results of the hearing were provided. This would have provided more scope for discussions to take place.

Issues for discussion

• Should companies act environmentally sustainably even though that would negatively impact their profits?

• If you were in the place to make a decision, what would it be?