| Sustainability is a significant issue of our times. | | | | degradationo Habitat destruction |
| Considering the social as well as the environmental | | | | Our current method of construction and |
| benefits resulting from sustainable development, it | | | | approaching a development project is taking a toll |
| is a no-brainer to direct all concerted efforts | | | | on the environment. To name a few impacts:o |
| towards this notable cause. Sustainability can be | | | | Extraction of required materials consumes the |
| defined as the ability to fulfill today's needs | | | | rapidly-depleting non-renewable resourceso Waste |
| without affecting the ability to fulfill tomorrow's | | | | generated is disposed into the sea or landfillso |
| needs. | | | | Resulting pollution affects the atmosphere and the |
| Sustainable development is recently being actively | | | | quality of lifeo Waste of energy due to poor |
| pursued by several developers and planners; the | | | | construction and rapid failing designs |
| following are the primary factors that have | | | | The major factor that drives people towards or |
| contributed to its relevance, awareness and | | | | away from a sustainable development project is |
| prominence:o Some countries have made it a legal | | | | the cost. In an attempt to compete and win a |
| requirement and included sustainable development | | | | contract, builders offer extremely low prices. This |
| in the regional and local policies.o Agencies are | | | | strategy, however, has some very adverse |
| setting standards for sustainable development and | | | | affects and, if not checked immediately, can lead |
| are making efforts to promote it.o The UK | | | | to extremely harsh consequences for the |
| government has included sustainable development | | | | environment and for the people. |
| in its policy among other environmental issues like | | | | Solutions to this problem have been ascertained |
| carbon dioxide emission reduction. | | | | and the implementation of these solutions requires |
| The UK government has made some remarkable | | | | a strong will and a commitment to improve the |
| progress in light of the recent trend towards | | | | conditions and thereby, make a difference in the |
| sustainable development. It has defined a set of | | | | world. Although the economic cost of alternatives |
| indicators that measure the quality of life; these | | | | to sustainable development is low, the costs to |
| include social, economic and environmental issues. | | | | the environment and the people are much higher. |
| The ratings on these indicators help measure how | | | | These costs include a reduced quality of life, |
| well a project is faring on the sustainable | | | | dangerous health impacts, polluted air and many |
| development scale. | | | | more. The sooner we realize the relevance of |
| Sustainable development is not an option for | | | | sustainable development, the better we will be at |
| high-profile projects alone; efforts are being made | | | | taking steps to flip the situation in our favor. |
| to make it increasingly more feasible for all | | | | Either we choose to get away with the monetary |
| project types and budgets. Sustainable | | | | costs and pay the environmental costs or we |
| development includes the use of sustainable | | | | learn to take responsibility and consequently, pay |
| materials, resources, and design which includes the | | | | the economic costs for a better and healthier |
| location, orientation, structure, systems, | | | | environment. Soon, the costs shall disappear into a |
| construction, use and also the eventual disposal of | | | | better and healthier quality of life. |
| waste. All these elements are significant and in | | | | Another way to look at the costs might provide |
| order for sustainable development to initiate and | | | | the required motivation to commit oneself to this |
| flourish, all or at least a few should be sustainable. | | | | approach. The economic costs that seem |
| Sustainability does not indicate that the elements | | | | additional at present will transform into nothing. In |
| should simply have the "recyclable" label. Each | | | | a matter of a couple years, sustainable |
| person involved at every step of the process | | | | development will be the norm and the way of life |
| should work to ensure that the recyclable | | | | and at this time, the owners of sustainable |
| products actually get recycled. | | | | projects will be enjoying the edge. The extra |
| Design of a project is the chief consideration that | | | | costs will become savings then. Realizing the |
| establishes whether a project will really meet the | | | | potential and benefits of sustainable development |
| sustainable development requirements. The | | | | is an asset in itself and those who act intelligently |
| various decisions involved throughout this | | | | on the available information will benefit. |
| comprehensive and cumbersome process will | | | | The sustainable development solution is a choice |
| determine the quality of products and resources | | | | at the moment but soon enough, this choice will |
| that will be available to the project team. As we | | | | turn into a mandatory obligation. And perhaps, |
| are still early in the course of sustainable | | | | then might be too late to reverse the damage |
| development, an approach of trying and learning | | | | that has been done and to correct the actions. |
| from the results is needed to arrive at the | | | | We should take responsibility for our actions and |
| "perfect" combination for a sustainable | | | | should follow the sustainable development |
| development project. The following are among | | | | approach as this is a decision we will be proud of. |
| the various considerations for sustainability:o | | | | Acquiring this approach is not just the rightful |
| Resource extraction and depletiono Land useo | | | | decision that will prove rewarding for ourselves |
| Waste disposalo Contamination of ground water | | | | but it is also the selfish decision. In no time, |
| and surface watero Global warmingo Pollution of | | | | sustainable development will become the required |
| air, water, noise etc.o Economic developmento | | | | standard for urban, suburban, residential as well as |
| Impact on communitieso Environmental | | | | commercial development. |