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Foundations of Engineering & Technology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Biomedical engineers apply principles of engi-
neering, such as identifying and researching the
problem and developing, testing, and evaluating
solutions, to design new technologies. They must
understand the use of medical technological tools
and understand the human body in order to design
new devices and solutions to medical problems.
One challenge faced by biomedical engineers is
the engineering of better medicines. There is a need
for new drugs that are adjusted to an individual’s
specifi genetic makeup. Since each person’s DNA is fic
unique and may infl his or her susceptibility fluence
to certain diseases, engineers and scientists seek to
create personalized medicine tailored just for the
body chemistry of individuals. See Figure 13-19.
It is becoming increasingly important to design structures in a way that reduces their I i b i i
impact on the environment. This is known as green building. Engineers are challenged to
design buildings that are sustainable, which refers to having minimal negative long-term
environmental impacts throughout its entire life cycle. Factors to be considered include
the materials used in construction, the effect of the structure on the local environment,
and the energy required to run the structure once complete. A team of different engineers
with highly specialized knowledge is required to design a green structure.
A set of rating systems called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED), developed by the US Green Building Council, is used to determine
how a green building can be designed and operated. There are four LEED certification
levels for buildings, which are certified, silver, gold, and platinum. These certification
levels are awarded to a building based on a point system that ranks the structure’s
potential environmental impact and benefits for humans.
One example of a green building is the health clinic built at Arizona State
University. This LEED-Platinum building reduced the previous facility’s carbon
footprint by 20%, which resulted in the preservation of over 5,000 square feet of
natural space. Additionally, engineers used more thermal barriers, mechanical
systems that were of higher-efficiency, and better designed lighting systems. These
choices resulted in an almost 50% reduction in energy usage below a standard for
buildings of similar size. Green projects are becoming more widespread to ensure
future generations continue to have access to the natural world.
Think Green
Green Building
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Figure 13-18. Medical devices such CT scanners and heart monitors are the result of advancements in medical technologies.