Book excerpt: Sustainable development is commonly defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainability in engineering incorporates ethical and social issues into the design of products and processes that will be used to benefit society as a whole. Sustainability Science and Engineering, Volume 1: Defining Principles sets out a series of "Sustainable Engineering Principles" that will help engineers design products and services to meet societal needs with minimal impact on the global ecosystem. Using specific examples and illustrations, the authors cleverly demonstrate opportunities for sustainable engineering, providing readers with valuable insight to applying these principles. This book is ideal for technical and non-technical readers looking to enhance their understanding of the impact of sustainability in a technical society.* Defines the principles of sustainable engineering* Provides specific examples of the application of sustainable engineering in industry* Represents the viewpoints of current leaders in the field and describes future needs in new technologies