Assessing the impact of mechatronic systems on the environment

The ever-increasing power consumption and the associated consumption of non-renewable natural resources lead to an overall environmental degradation. Efforts to increase the energy efficiency, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainable use of natural resources have a significant potential for improving the environment and its preservation for future generations. To realize this potential, it is however necessary to manage the assessment of the environmental impact of product design on the environment. Mechatronic systems (e.g. machinery, manipulators, actuators, and manufacturing machines ...) form significant industrial facilities and at the same time they also represent major appliances consuming the electrical energy, and during their entire life cycle they have a considerable impact on the environment. The most demanding industry sectors are: production of iron and steel, which are materials that are often used in the construction of mechatronic systems. The present article is devoted to the methodology of assessment of the effects of general mechatronic system on the environment. The environmental burden is presented in the form of carbon dioxide emissions caused by the production of selected construction materials.