Incinegator

From fierce hurricanes to rising seas, the changing climate demands a new age of sustainable thinking. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines sustainability as the effort to “create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony”. Tasked with maintaining the delicate balance of the built environment and the natural world, the civil engineering profession plays a crucial role in ensuring the prosperity of future generations. On this journey, an emerging industry tool can empower engineers to make more informed environmental decisions. The life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) evaluates the cradle-to-grave impacts of a product or process, offering the most complete environmental assessment. LCSAs can lead the way to fulfill the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Code of Ethics’ call for sustainable development. The University of Florida Concrete Canoe (UFCC) team embodied a lifecycle perspective in delivering Incinegator, a canoe prepared to ignite a fire in its wake.