What is Industrial Ecology?
The phrase Industrial Ecology evokes powerful images and strong reactions, both positive and negative. To some, the phrase conjures images of industrial systems that mimic the mass conservation properties of natural ecosystems. Powerful analogies can be drawn between the evolution of natural ecosystems and the potential evolution of industrial systems. Billions of years ago, the Earth’s life forms consumed the planet’s stocks of materials and changed the composition of the atmosphere. Our natural ecosystems evolved slowly to the intricately balanced, mass conserving networks that exist today. Can our industrial systems evolve in the same way, but much more quickly? These are interesting visions and thought provoking concepts. But, is Industrial Ecology merely a metaphor for these concepts? Is there any engineering substance to the emerging field of Industrial Ecology? As demonstrated in this Chapter, Industrial Ecology is much more than a metaphor and it is a field where engineers can
