Sustainability Issues:

Energy:

It is important to pay attention to power dissipation when performing analysis of circuits because the best circuit takes up the least amount of space, runs the fastest, and uses the smallest amount of power.  With the burden of not having renewable fossil fuels, it is the responsibility of mankind to ensure that we optimize our consumption of these fuels whenever possible; which means it is the responsibility of the engineer to always design, implement, and improve their work with these notions in mind. Knowing that fossil fuels will come to an end, we must look at alternative energy sources to power, like solar and wind sources, to power our world and tomorrow's. 

Environment:

"Everything connects to everything else."[2]

As mentioned in the Energy section, humans have the burden of managing the consumption of nonrenewable energy sources.  This ties in with the effect that designing and producing chips like the one used in this experiment has on the environment as a whole.  It is also the responsibility of the engineer to maintain the awareness of how their work is going to affect the environment.  For instance, the larger the chips are, the more room they take up in landfills once thrown away.  The more energy they consume, the more fuel we burn in the process of providing that energy.  While it is in the best interest of the manufacturer to produce the most outstanding product, it is not acceptable to do so at the expense of our planet and its natural resources, or the safety of plants and/or animals, if such a thing could be avoided.

Economics:

"There is no such thing as a free lunch."[2]

When designing a circuit, power consumption, size, and speed are not the only things that are considered.  Cost efficiency is another very important aspect of sustainability.  While cost efficiency is largely tied to how much area the circuit consumes or how much power it dissipates, there are other factors as well such as the cost of employee salaries, the equipment needed to build the circuit, and the resources required.  The concern here is not so much on the effect the circuit has on the environment, (!!! consider externalities !!!) it is if the circuit is actually worth producing.  Do the direct and indirect costs outweigh the benefits, is the circuit going to be something they can produce on a large scale and sell with a profit?  These aspects are largely the responsibility of the engineer.

Equity:

In a world that relies heavily on electronics it is important to design electronics with all socioeconomic classes in mind. Generally, electronics and computers have not been very accessible to people of the lower economic class. Designing circuits to be more cost efficient, in price and in energy consumption, makes electronics more widely available. More computers will end up in inner city schools and in the homes of the underprivileged, helping to narrow the social divide and increase the overall quality of life.

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It is apparent that the engineer has a large responsibility.  There is no room for neglect in these areas, because it is not just the responsibility of the engineer, it is the duty.

References:

[1] Bench 5's Sustainability Issues.

[2] How To Write EE347 Lab Reports.

Braun's comments:

Fix spelling errors. Apply the paramedic method more completely. Also, consider social and political equity.

Provide complete citations for references following the instructions in

1. D. Braun, "EE 347 Report Guidelines," Cal Poly Electrical Engineering Dept., March 31, 2008. Available: http://courseware.ee.calpoly.edu/~dbraun/courses/ee307/labguide.htm. [Accessed May 26, 2008]

2. D. Braun, How to Prepare EE 347 Lab Reports, Available: http://courseware.ee.calpoly.edu/%7Edbraun/courses/IEEE-EE347-Reports.doc.  [Accessed May 26, 2008]