Upon initial thought, sustainability means both environmental and social sustainability. This translates directly when thinking of sustainability and promoting a sustainable built environment since building sustainably must be focused on a building’s environmental and social impacts.
Environmental Sustainability
This pertains to exactly what it sounds like - the environment
- Using materials that minimize embody carbon (abundant, locally sourced, minimize energy and water to manufacture, etc.)
- Using materials that are durable and resilient to promote longevity
- Designing buildings/spaces that are energy efficient and are powered through renewable sources (net zero site energy)
- Designing buildings/spaces that minimizes land disruption
- Designing buildings/spaces that minimize water disruption - reclaiming rainwater as graywater or using natural plantings throughout building
- Some examples that promote Environmental Sustainability:
- Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch (large windows to save on electricity usage from fans and AC, roof is covered by PVs, roof captures rainwater)
- California Academy of Sciences (green roof provides energy, controls waste water, and nourishes various plant specimens)
- Museum of the West in Scottsdale, AZ (uses local materials and simple building methods that evoke Western icons like woven baskets and the red cliffs of the Colorado Plateau)
Social Sustainability
This relates to everything present in our society: people, work, politics, economy, etc.
- Designing buildings/spaces that promotes the health and wellness of its occupants (natural day lighting and ventilation)
- Designing buildings/spaces that are safe to construct and not put anyone’s life in danger
- Using materials that are harvested and manufactured in a way that does not infringe on the rights of any community nor population - “ethically sourced materials”
- Designing buildings/spaces that are a good investment of money and materials - does not require constant maintenance and renovations - typically, if designed sustainably, it is also economical
- Some examples that promote Social Sustainability:
- NYC Floating Island “Little Island” (public space promote health and wellness of public)
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (17 goals for a sustainable society)
