When I think of sustainability, I immediately think of the complexity of a concept map. Sustainability is a multidimensional term that focuses on a holistic approach to a complex issue. I think of the relationships between people and the planet, and how both need to work together in order to preserve the future of each other.
After taking Dr. Lepech’s life cycle analysis class, I think of the three P’s or the triple bottom line. The three P’s stand for people, planet, and profit. The triple bottom line is a business concept that encourages firms to measure their social and environmental impacts in addition to their economic impacts instead of just monitoring financial performance. People are in reference to society and stakeholders, the planet is in reference to the push for positive impacts towards the planet, and profit references a business’s financial performance. All of these must be evaluated in order to see overall impact and well as plan for future growth.
When I think of “sustainable built environment,” I think of concepts like renewable energy implementation, reclaimed materials, lasting structures, carbon sequestration, and sustainable water systems.
One inspirational project is a residential building located in Belgium that was retrofitted into a set of high performing homes. The homes themselves save roughly 72,000 kWh of electricity each year through energy efficient design as well as the reuse of materials and structural elements.
Another inspirational project is located in the Netherlands. It is a teaching building at TU Delft that includes heat regulation, solar panels, and sustainable insulation design. This building through design methods harvests more energy than it uses during its operating hours. It also serves as a space that encourages learning and community within the campus.
