Sustainability is an important issue of our time. Considering the social and environmental benefits resulting from sustainable development, it is obvious to direct all concerted efforts towards this remarkable cause. Sustainability can be defined as the ability to meet the needs of today without affecting the ability to meet the needs of tomorrow.
Recently, various developers and planners are actively pursuing sustainable development; the following are the main factors that have contributed to its relevance, awareness and prominence:
o Some countries have made it a legal requirement and included sustainable development in regional and local policies.
o Agencies are setting standards for sustainable development and making efforts to promote it.
o The UK government has included sustainable development in its policy, among other environmental issues, such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The UK government has made some remarkable progress in light of the recent trend towards sustainable development. It has defined a set of indicators that measure the quality of life; these include social, economic and environmental issues. Ratings for these indicators help measure how well a project is doing on the sustainable development scale.
Sustainable development is not an option only for high-profile projects; Efforts are being made to make it increasingly feasible for all types of projects and budgets. Sustainable development includes the use of sustainable materials, resources, and design, including location, orientation, structure, systems, construction, use, and also waste disposal. All of these elements are significant and for sustainable development to start and prosper, all or at least some of them must be sustainable.
Sustainability does not mean that items should simply be labeled “recyclable”. Every person involved in every step of the process must work to ensure that recyclable products actually get recycled.
The design of a project is the primary consideration that establishes whether a project will actually meet sustainable development requirements. The various decisions involved throughout this comprehensive and cumbersome process will determine the quality of the products and resources that will be available to the project team. As we are still in the early stages of sustainable development, a try-and-learn approach is needed to arrive at the “right” mix for a sustainable development project. The following are some of the various considerations for sustainability:
o Extraction and depletion of resources
or land use
o Waste disposal
o Contamination of groundwater and surface water
or global warming
o Air pollution, water, noise, etc.
or economic development
o Impact on communities
o Environmental degradation
o Habitat destruction
Our current construction method and approach to a development project is taking a toll on the environment. To name a few impacts:
o The extraction of the necessary materials consumes non-renewable resources that are quickly depleted
o The waste generated is disposed of in the sea or landfills
o The resulting pollution affects the atmosphere and quality of life.
o Energy waste due to poor construction and designs that fail quickly
The main factor that pushes people towards or away from a sustainable development project is cost. In an attempt to compete and win a contract, builders offer extremely low prices. This strategy, however, has some very adverse effects and, if not checked immediately, can have extremely harsh consequences for the environment and for people.
Solutions to this problem have been determined and the implementation of these solutions requires a strong will and a commitment to improve conditions and thus make a difference in the world. Although the economic cost of alternatives to sustainable development is low, the costs to the environment and people are much higher. These costs include reduced quality of life, dangerous health impacts, polluted air, and many more. The sooner we realize the relevance of sustainable development, the better we can take action to turn the situation around in our favor. Either we choose to get away with the monetary costs and pay the environmental costs or we learn to take responsibility and consequently pay the economic costs for a better and healthier environment. Soon the costs will disappear in a better and healthier quality of life.
Another way of looking at costs could provide the necessary motivation to commit to this approach. The economic costs that seem additional today will become nothing. In a matter of a couple of years, sustainable development will be the norm and way of life, and right now, sustainable project owners will have the upper hand. The extra costs will then be converted into savings. Realizing the potential and benefits of sustainable development is an asset in itself and those who act intelligently on the information available will benefit.
The sustainable development solution is a choice at the moment, but very soon, this choice will become a mandatory obligation. And perhaps then it is too late to reverse the damage that has been done and correct the actions. We should take responsibility for our actions and follow the sustainable development approach, as this is a decision we will be proud of. Taking this approach is not only the right decision that will be rewarding for us, but it is also a selfish decision. In a short time, sustainable development will become the required standard for urban, suburban, residential and commercial development.