Sustainability in Engineering

Why are lithium-ion batteries important to recycle?

• Lithium-ion batteries are not biodegradable and harm the environment if left.

• Dead lithium-ion batteries are flammable, so they pose a threat to safety if left unassembled.

• Lithium, cobalt, and the minerals in the battery are hard to mine and costly.

• All of the above

 Which company in the  EV industry currently has the largest lithium-ion battery recycling program?

• Tesla

• Rivian Automotive

• Ford

• Lucid Motors

What are environmental concern associated with mining?

• The depletion of non-renewable resources

• The release of toxic chemicals and pollutants into the environment

• The disturbance of natural habitats and ecosystems

• All of the above

Which of the following is a sustainable practice for metal mining?

• Using cyanide to extract gold from ore

•  Recycling metals used in the mining process

• Dumping waste rock and tailings into nearby bodies of water

In 2018, Apple released “Daisy” in response to growing backlash received for the company’s large contribution to E-waste. What was Daisy able to do?

• Go to landfills and press E-waste into smaller cubes that take up less space

• Produce apple products made with biodegradable materials

• Take apart and recycle iPhones

• Track the amount of Apple products that became “end-of-life” electronics

In 2015, how many iPhones did Apple CEO Tim Cook share were sold on average each hour?

• 1,500

• 12,000

• 30,000

• 50,000

What makes a material sustainable?

• It is made from non-renewable resources

• It is not biodegradable

• It has a long shelf life

• It is produced using environmentally-friendly methods and can be replenished

Which of the following is an example of a sustainable material used in technology?

• Nylon

• PVC

• Bamboo

• Acrylic

The US spent 1.3 trillion dollars on energy in 2022, what percentage of this is spent on renewable or clean energy?

• 17.5%

• 9%

• 31.3%

• 22%

How many classes offered at UT are focused on sustainable energy?

• 13

• 24

• 50

• 126