Sustainable developmentMode of human developmentSustainable development is an approach to growth and human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The aim is to have a society where living conditions and resources meet human needs without undermining planetary integrity. Sustainable development aims to balance the needs of the economy, environment, and society (Triple Bottom Line).
Sustainable architectureSustainable architecture is a branch of architecture that focuses on the design and construction of buildings according to environmental sustainability criteria, with the aim of minimizing their negative environmental impact by enhancing efficiency, reducing material and energy consumption, and minimizing the disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem. Sometimes, sustainable architecture may also focus on the social aspect of sustainability.
Life-cycle assessmentMethodology for assessing environmental impactsIllustration of the general phases of a life cycle assessment, as described by ISO 14040The Framework for Life Cycle Assessment.Life cycle assessment (LCA), also known as life cycle analysis, is methodology for assessing the impacts associated with all the stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process, or service.
Circular economyCircular economy (CE), or circularity, is a model of resource production and consumption that involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products, to extend product life cycle for as long as possible. The concept aims to tackle global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution by emphasizing the design-based implementation of the three base principles of the model.
Non-renewable resourceA non-renewable resource (also called a finite resource) is a natural resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a pace quick enough to keep up with consumption. An example is carbon-based fossil fuels. The original organic matter, with the aid of heat and pressure, becomes a fuel such as oil or gas.
Ecological designEcological design or ecodesign is an approach to designing products and services that gives special consideration to the environmental impacts of a product over its entire lifecycle. Sim Van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan define it as "any form of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with living processes."
CompostMixture used to improve soil fertilityCommunity-level composting in a rural area in GermanyCompost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and manure. The resulting mixture is rich in plant nutrients and beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, and fungi.
LEEDStandard for green building design
Sustainable engineeringSustainable engineering is the process of designing or operating systems such that they use energy and resources sustainably, in other words, at a rate that does not compromise the natural environment, or the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Renewable energyEnergy collected from renewable resourcesExamples of renewable energy: concentrated solar power in Spain; wind energy in South Africa; the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China; biomass energy plant in Scotland.Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power, bioenergy/biomass, and hydropower.
Victor PapanekVictor Josef Papanek (German pronunciation: [ˈvɪktoʁ ˈjoːsɛf ˈpapanɛk]; 22 November 1923 – 10 January 1998) was an Austrian-born American designer and educator, who became a strong advocate of the socially and ecologically responsible design of products, tools, and community infrastructures. His book Design for the Real World, originally published in 1971 and translated into more than 24 languages, had lasting international impact.BREEAMThe Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), first published by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in 1990, is widely recognised as the world's longest established method of identifying the sustainability performance of buildings. Around 600,000 buildings have been BREEAM-certified. Additionally, 2.3 million buildings have registered for certification globally. BREEAM also has schemes for infrastructure and masterplanning.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.