HOT TOPICS
SUSTAINABILTY: CUTTING THROUGH THE HYPE
It seems like all of a sudden you can't pick up a Facilities magazine, attend a conference, or even read through the mainstream press; without being deluged by articles and antidotes about sustainability, the new buzz word for the latter part of this decade. It's not that the concept of sustainability is antiquated already or not important, it's more like the idea that it has to be focused specifically to your organization and industry than applied with a one size fits all mentality.
Most articles that try to advance the concept of sustainability tend to focus on Green buildings and LEED certification, which while important, does not encompass everything that can be done, even on a small scale. Although it's a bumper sticker catch phrase, the "Think Globally, Act Locally," concept seems to be most appropriate and important when tackling an issue as diverse as sustainability.
When you look at what's driving the awareness and need for sustainability, you can see a patchwork of leading scientists, politicians, educators and the like; looking into the future and seeing a world in which dwindling resources and unbridled development have exceeded the natural ability of the planet to cleanse itself and adapt to the populations it must support.
One of the key ways to advance the concept of sustainability is to freely share ideas with colleagues about what you are doing and how it is working. IFMA Delaware would like to spark that interest by encouraging our members to talk informally prior to the monthly meetings about what works and what doesn't. Certainly recycling is a key component of sustainability, but alone it will not solve the problem of stewardship of our resources for future generations.
Ideas that are generated today could have a significant ripple effect on the landscape for years to come. If you can start training your mind to manage resources more efficiently, then you'll make decisions that advance sustainability as a matter of habit rather than of discovery.
For just one of many web sites that encourage a sustainable approach try visiting www.engineeringforsustainability.org.
by Mark Mankin, Coordinator, University of Delaware
