Sustainability:

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Sustainability

• What is it?

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Brundtland Commission, formally the UN World
Commission on Environment and Development (WCED),
1983

• sustainable development defined as development
  that "meets the needs of the present without
  compromising the ability of future generations to
  meet their own needs.
• Implicitly argues for the rights of future
  generations to raw materials and vital ecosystem
  services to be taken into account in decision
  making.

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• Is there a problem?

(With our current systems, in 7 generations, will
our childrens children inherit an equal or
better planet and place to live as we have today?)
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Common Systems to Explain Sustainability

• Cradle to Cradle
• Triple Bottom Line
• Natural Step Framework
• LEED
• Food Miles

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Cradle to CradleRemaking the Way We Make Things

• Authors argue that the conflict between industry
  and the environment is not an indictment of
  commerce but an outgrowth of purely opportunistic
  design. The design of products and manufacturing
  systems growing out of the Industrial Revolution
  reflected the spirit of the day-and yielded a
  host of unintended yet tragic consequences.

By William McDonough Michael Braungart North
Point Press, 2002
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Cradle to Cradle (cont.)

• Today, with our growing knowledge of the living
  earth, design can reflect a new spirit. In fact,
  when designers employ the intelligence of natural
  systemsthe effectiveness of nutrient cycling,
  the abundance of the sun's energythey can create
  products, industrial systems, buildings, even
  regional plans that allow nature and commerce to
  fruitfully co-exist.
• Regenerative
• Waste Food

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Triple Bottom Line

• People
• pertains to fair and beneficial business
  practices toward labor, the community, and region
  in which a corporation conducts its business
• Planet
• refers to sustainable environmental practices
• Profit
• economic value created by the organization after
  deducting the cost of all inputs, including the
  cost of the capital tied up

a method of evaluating corporate performance by
measuring profits as well as environmental
sustainability and social responsibility
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Background on Triple Bottom Line

• The phrase was coined by John Elkington in 1994.
• It was later expanded and articulated in his 1998
  book Cannibals with Forks the Triple Bottom Line
  of 21st Century Business

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Natural Step Framework

• A Systems Approach - derived from the laws of
  thermodynamics
• A comprehensive model for planning in complex
  systems
• System conditions are significant in that they
  are scientifically-based, but readily
  understandable, principles for sustainability
• It is openly published and free for all to use

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History of Natural Step Framework

• Started in 1989 by Karl-Henrik Robèrt, (born
  1947) - M.D., Ph.D., is one of Sweden's leading
  cancer scientists
• Cancer research (damaged cells) led to
  environmental concerns
• Since the late 19th Century, humans have been
  "disrupting the cyclical processes of nature at
  an accelerating pace
• Linear processes of modern society all linear
  processes must eventually come to an end," -to
  save ourselves, would be to restore the cyclical
  processes of nature

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Natural Step Framework

• Eco-Municipalities
• Key to success is a democratic "bottom-up" change
  process, and
• Clear guiding sustainability principles such as
  the Natural Step framework

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LEED Leadership in Energy Environmental Design
?? Certified 26-32 ?? Silver 33-38 ?? Gold
39-51 ?? Platinum 52-69

• ?? Sustainable Sites (14)
• ?? Water Efficiency (5)
• ?? Energy Atmosphere (17)
• ?? Materials Resources (13)
• ?? Environmental Quality (15)
• ?? Innovation in Design (5)
• TOTAL (69)
• US Green Building Council (USGBC)

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Examples Industry

• Nike
• world's leading manufacturer of athletic shoes,
  apparel and equipment
• Electrolux
• world's largest manufacturer of
  household/commercial appliances US brands
  include Frigidaire, Eureka, and Kenmore
• IKEA
• Swedish home furnishings retailer
• Interface
• world's largest producer of commercial floor
  coverings

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Sustainability Guide Plan
Example CommunitiesCity of Burnsville
14 Best Practice Areas (BPA)
Burnsville

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Example Community PlanningCity of Burnsville
Best Practice Areas (BPAs)

• Environ. Preferable Purchasing
• Product Stewardship
• Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• Sustain. Land Use
• Sustain. Transportation
• Renewable Energy
• Energy Efficiency

1. Sustain. Buildings
2. Community Health
3. Recycling and Wast Mgmt
4. Health Urban Forests
5. Sustain. Education
6. Surface/Ground Water
7. Innovative Opportunities

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GHGs / Energy Use
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Who Should/Will Tackle The Challenge

• Grassroots
• Rotary - Cross Section of our Community
• We are the Community, Leaders
• Business, Government, etc.