What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable development is a philosophically healthier way of managing economic growth than has been pursued in the U.S. and elsewhere, particularly during the last half of the 20th century. During the past 20 years mainstream society has grown increasingly aware that economic interests are causing environmental degradation and social inequities at an unprecedented rate. Sustainable development attempts to better balance competing economic, environmental and social equity issues in a manner that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Green Building is a term that refers to the creation of healthier resource and energy conserving structures for humans in which to live and work. There are various standards of measurement in the building industry to assess the success of green construction. The most well known and probably the most widely respected system for assessment is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) offered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
To achieve LEED Certification, design and construction should address issues such as appropriate site identification, community connectivity, alternative transportation options, pedestrian and bicycle priority, storm water management, heat island reduction, water use reduction, waste management and reduction, recycling, use of regional materials, indoor air quality, contaminant material reduction/elimination, pollutant source control, thermal systems, and energy efficient performance, among other items. The practice of building “green” is essential to sustainable development.
Selected Reading
Earth in Mind: On Education, Environment, and the Human Prospect; David W. Orr, c. 2004
The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of A Paradigm Shift; Andres R. Edwards, c. 2005
LifePlace: Bioregional Thought and Practice; Robert L. Thayer, Jr., c. 2003
Sustainability and Spirituality: John E. Carroll, c. 2004
On Equilibrium: Six Qualities of the New Humanism; John Ralston Saul, c. 2004
Planning for Sustainability: Creating Livable, Equitable and Ecological Communities; Stephen M. Wheeler, c. 2004
The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time; Karl Polanyi, c. 1944
The Dream of the Earth: Thomas Berry, c. 1988
Energy: Science, Policy, and the Pursuit of Sustainability; Ed. Robert Bent, Lloyd Orr, Randall Baker. C. 2002
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder; Richard Louv, c. 2005
Win-Win Ecology: How the Earth’s Species Can Survive in the Midst of Human Enterprise; Michael L. Rosenzweig, c. 2003
The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability; Paul Hawken, c. 1993
Sustainable America: America’s Environment, Economy and Society in the 21st Century; Ed. Daniel Sitarz, c. 1998
Toward Sustainable Communities: Resources for Citizens and Their Governments; Mark Roseland, c. 1998
Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age; Michael H. Shuman, c. 2000
The Green City: Sustainable Homes, Sustainable Suburbs; Nicholas Low, Brendan Gleeson, Ray Green, Darko Radovic, c. 2005
The Farm as Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems with Ecosystems; Ed. Dana L. Jackson, Laura L. Jackson, c. 2002
Ecocities: Building Cities in Balance with Nature; Richard Register, c. 2002
American Mania: When More Is Not Enough; Peter C. Whybrow, c. 2005
Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children for a Sustainable World; Ed. Michael K. Stone, Zenobia Barlow, c. 2005
