Sustainability

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future.

Sustainability means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

We are reaching out to the community on issues of sustainability. Thinking about sustainability requires looking at the world from a new perspective. By encouraging a new way of thinking, we can begin to change our behavior. New habits can help us improve our communities and maintain a high quality of life while maintaining and enhancing the natural environment on which our lives depend.

Sustainable Community Indicators

Sustainable community indicators is a topic that sounds more difficult than it really is. What it really comes down to is this:
  • What is the quality of life for all members of a community now?
  • How does the quality of life compare to life in the past and in the future?
  • How do we measure quality of life?
  • Do people have good jobs that pay for their basic needs?
  • Is environmental quality a health concern?
  • How involved are people in making their community a better place to work, play and live?
These are all issues of concern for a sustainable community. Sustainable community issues include issues of health, education, welfare, economy, environment, transportation, public safety, energy, water, in short, all the different parts that, together, make up a community. Together, with all our diverse needs and desires, we all make up communities.

Creating sustainable communities requires that we understand how our needs and desires are intertwined: a healthy economy helps to make housing affordable; environmental quality affects human health; and health affects how well students learn; well educated workers are necessary for a healthy economy. All these different issues and needs are linked. Together we need to find ways to meet those needs so that our community can continue to improve and prosper.

Feedback
We would like to hear back from you. Please send us an email and tell us what sustainability means to you.