Green Engineering Apprenticeships: Why Is Sustainability Important In Engineering?

Promoting sustainability is essential for the health of our planet, and we can implement sustainability in all areas of our lives – including how we design, create, build and repair engineering components. Green engineering continues to evolve, and so do engineering apprenticeships.

This is because engineers play such a vital role in the world of sustainability. Engineers have a hand in creating essential machinery and objects that we use every day. When we change how we handle engineering, we can make the world a greener place one project at a time. 

Why Is Sustainability Important In Engineering?

Engineering shapes the future. Engineers influence buildings, HVAC systems, infrastructure and manufacturing – basically every industry is influenced by engineering in some way. Adopting sustainable green engineering practices has a ripple effect, extending outward and changing how the world works.  

Important points of green engineering are:

• Using Renewable Resources And Promoting Environmental Responsibility. Older, more traditional engineering methods sometimes use finite resources and generate too much waste. We can improve our processes by prioritising renewable resources and minimising waste as much as possible. Another key point is to use recyclable materials, like aluminium, so we can contribute to a circular economy and reduce the need to mine and process raw materials.
• Optimising Energy Consumption. Energy efficiency is essential for lowering energy usage without sacrificing productivity or quality. Modern engineers optimise energy consumption to create better, more effective products. 
• Championing Innovation And Modern Technology. To evolve, we must continue to reevaluate how we do things. Embracing cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions enables us to develop more effective, sustainable practices. 
• Meeting Local And Global Standards. New Zealand is introducing tighter environmental regulations and green standards, leading the way towards a better future. Engineers continue to adapt to meet and exceed these standards for legal and ethical reasons. 
• Improving Reputation And Responsibility. While the ultimate goal of green engineering is to support the environment, investing and promoting green engineering can also improve the reputation of engineers and the companies they work with. Being proactive with sustainable practices helps to future-proof careers and businesses, appealing to consumers and business partners and helping them meet their own sustainability goals. 

How Engineering Apprenticeships Are Evolving To Be More Eco-Friendly

How can we promote green practices during engineering apprenticeships?

Emphasising Energy Efficient Processes. Throughout your entire career, it’s vital to think critically about optimising energy use and reducing waste through smarter designs, proper planning and effective problem-solving. Even if we perform certain tasks a certain way right now, there could be better, more efficient ways to complete these tasks that we haven’t discovered yet.

There’s always a chance that plans may not work out as intended. So, apprentices need to develop keen problem-solving skills to discover green solutions.

Choosing Sustainable Materials. An important part of thinking like a professional engineer is learning how to select renewable, eco-friendly or recycled materials for projects. It’s not just enough to pick the most eco-friendly material, either – you need to make sure it suits the project, and that it can perform as intended. You must learn how to balance green practices and great performance, ensuring your results meet your sustainability goals while still being high-quality.

Using Digital Tools Over Paper-Based Physical Systems. With so many digital marvels at our disposal, we can now use software to manage projects, design plans and reach out to important parties instead of relying on paper-and-pen-based systems. Using digital means instead of physical methods reduces waste and simplifies operations, making it easier to streamline workflows, share plans, communicate with others and more.

Digital tools can also reduce human error. For example, plans that are clearly detailed and modelled digitally are often easier to read than those written on paper.

Encouraging Life-Cycle Thinking. Instead of just thinking about the here and now, you’ll learn how to think about the entire lifespan of the components you’re working with.

• How long will it last? Try to create components that last a long time, because this will reduce the waste and emissions caused by repairing or replacing them. 
• How easily can it be repaired? If the component does break or wear out, how easy will it be to repair it?
• Can it be recycled or repurposed at the end of its life? Once the component has served its purpose, can it be recycled or repurposed instead of being thrown out?

Getting Hands-On Exposure To Renewable Tech. As an apprentice, you can learn more about increasingly popular green engineering technologies like solar tech, green building systems and energy-efficient designs. This prepares you and your fellow apprentices for work with environmentally focused technologies. 

Kickstarting Your Career With ATNZ

At ATNZ, we understand the importance of sustainability, which is why we continually seek innovative ways to enhance our operations. We’re passionate about encouraging all kinds of learners, including Maori, Pasifika and women learners and aspiring engineers of all races, backgrounds and genders, to pursue their dreams. 

Visit our website to learn more about our courses. Or, you can book a chat at , and we’ll discuss your potential future with you. 

ATNZ: Let’s build a better world together.