What is Sustainable Design?
"Sustainable development involves...meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992)
This statement, adopted by the President's Council on Sustainable Development, is often used as a general definition of sustainability. According to the AIA Handbook, "...sustainability refers to the ability of a society, ecosystem, or any such ongoing system to continue functioning into the indefinite future... For architecture, this means design that delivers buildings and communities with lower environmental impacts while enhancing health, productivity, community, and quality of life." This suggests that sustainabilty is not limited to impacts on the natural environment, but on people and the community. Another common concept often referred to in sustainable design definitions is the Green Triangle of Environment, Economy and Equity - "With ecological design...any time you do something beneficial for one of them, you will almost inevitably do something beneficial for the other two." (Callenbach, 1993).
The movement toward more ecological design principles is based on the growing understanding that common development practice is not sustainable. It has been stated that "as much as a tenth of the global economy is dedicated to buildings: to constructing, operating, and equipping our built environment. In terms of materials, this economic activity uses even larger shares--one-sixth to one-half--of the world's wood, minerals, water, and energy. Blame for much of the environmental damage occurring today, from destruction of forests and rivers to air and water pollution and climate destabilization, must be placed squarely at the doorsteps of modern buildings. And many buildings do harm on the inside as well: they subject us to unhealthy air or alienating physical environments, making us both less healthy and less productive than we are capable of being." (Roodman and Lenssen, World Watch, Nov. 1994.)
In addition to the term sustainable design, high performance buildings, green design, and ecological design are used to generally refer to a similar set of ideas. Whatever the precise name and definition, sustainable design is not just about preserving the natural environment, it is about applying good design practices and good business principles.
Benefits of Sustainable Design
There are benefits of sustainable design for the state agency that occupies the building, the
building occupants themselves, the community where the facility is built, as well as the State
of Minnesota and the public.
Reduced operating expenditures for energy: By employing more energy efficient designs, there are operating savings from reduced energy
consumption (as measured against conventional practices under the Minnesota Energy Code).
Reduced operation and maintenance costs: By using more durable low-maintenance materials and systems, facility operating costs will be
reduced through savings in labor, waste handling, and streamlining of housekeeping and
maintenance procedures.
Personnel expenditure reductions: Healthy, comfortable work environments have been known to lead to reduced absenteeism and
increased employee retention. There are potential improvements in performance/productivity.
Reduced costs for managing change: By designing structures and systems that are flexible and adaptable to other uses, costs of
periodic reorganization and renovation are reduced.
Benefits to the Building Users
Healthy, comfortable work environments: Indoor air quality and other human factors issues such as daylight and view will be enhanced to
ensure worker comfort as well as productivity.
Benefits to the Communities where Facilities are Located
Positive effect on surrounding community: By preserving ecosystems and minimizing impact, sustainable buildings enhance their communities.
Proper location of buildings also can enhance sustainable community transportation and land use
patterns.
Reduced municipal operating expenditures: More sustainably designed buildings will mean that during construction and operation, waste is
reduced going to landfills. There are also savings resulting from water treatment reduction.
Reduced infrastructure costs: More sustainably designed buildings mean that capital costs for expanding water supply, sewer
systems and wastewater treatment plants can be avoided.
Benefits to the State of Minnesota and the Public
Reduced life cycle costs in state buildings: There will be a connection of initial investments to life cycle cost and performance including,
durability, energy performance, and environmental impact.
Economic development: More efficient buildings mean less money leaves the state for
energy. Buildings requiring clean technologies may spur development of these industries within
the state. Similarly, development of local environmentally preferable product markets will be
facilitated in Minnesota.
Emissions reduction/clean air: Cleaner air through reduced consumption of fossil fuels
(reduction of carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide, particulates, mercury).
Environmental benefits: Environmental benefits include climate change stabilization; soil,
air and water pollution prevention; preservation of forests and biodiversity.
