ENC 3254 Sustainability Definition Draft PDF

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This assignment was an exercise to determine what each student feels the definition of sustainability includes. Each student had a different idea based on their experiences and knowledge...

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Sustainability Definition Daniela Hernandez ENC 3254 - Professor Mellon January 29, 2021

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Sustainability entails the protection of the environment and public health and the conservation and/or more efficient use of energy and supplies. Practicing sustainability helps preserve opportunities for growth for preceding generations by implementing more ethical practices in building and more creative ways to utilize materials. I believe that sustainability in the built environment is all encompassing of the people, ecosystems and places where structures are located. In my definition, I included public health because I feel that safety should not be compromised to spare money or time in a construction project. I also referenced the efficient use of energy and supplies because a large part of conserving the environment is not misusing resources that are nonrenewable or difficult to replenish which could in turn cause changes to the future landscape. I find that one of the overarching, long-term goals of sustainability is to ensure that future generations are able to develop in a safe environment with ample access to resources and continue building ethically to carry on this trend. I read about this on the IISD website, and I felt like this was important to tie into the definition of sustainability because it gives it purpose. Providing a common goal allows builders and designers to resonate with what they’re working towards (Sustainable Development, 2013). Additionally, reading the Brundtland report from the United Nations shows how far we have come in terms of acknowledging the importance of sustainability and the changes we need to make in the way we build. The report echoed the idea that “physical sustainability implies a concern for social equity between generations” which highlighted the mission of the UN, to urge countries to think ahead. There was also a section highlighting what the UN deemed to be the “key elements of sustainability” which was interesting to read and see how we have tackled that as a society over the last 30 years (Our Common Future, 1987). These included growing our

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energy supply to meet the demand of our ever growing population which is an issue that is difficult because many people don’t understand the difference between nonrenewable energy and renewable, clean energy which we need more of if we are going to provide future generations with the proper resources. Part of that stems from conserving more energy as well and limiting wasteful activities which pollute the environment for no good reason. All of these points addressed in the UN report are issues we are still working on, to create more sustainability in the built environment.

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Sources: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future United Nations 1987 (Rep.). (1987). United Nations. Sustainable Development. (2013, January 06). Retrieved January 27, 2021, from https://www.iisd.org/about-iisd/sustainable-development...