Sustainable Development in Practice

Sustainable development is currently in practice throughout the world in a number of companies, cities and countries. Not only is the need for sustainability for the preservation of our environment recognized, but the potential economic gain associated with sustainable practice is a driving force. To better illustrate sustainability in practice I will characterize examples for each of the scales of size.

Companies and joint organization representing companies such as the British Beer & Pub Association http://www.beerandpub.com/ (representing UK breweries) are realizing the potential economic gain associated with sustainable practice. The association has focused on analyzing current energy consumption, packaging practices, and waste produced through production at participating breweries. By analyzing these factors the organization is attempting to create a need for new technologies or practices that could provide increased sustainability and cost reduction. Using the example of waste; by quantifying and characterizing waste leaving a brewing facility the organization has been able to divert approximately 97% from waste stream to be utilized in current processes to organic fertilizers from organic waste products. Not only does the decrease in waste keep our landfills clean, but utilizing waste in production reduces cost which subsequently increases brewery revenue.

http://www.beerandpub.com/

A great personal example of sustainable development on a city scale is the T’Sou-ke First Nations in Sooke, British Columbia http://www.tsoukenation.com/. This community is achieving sustainability through the utilization of a renewable energy source by implementation of PV and solar thermal panels. By becoming lessening the dependency of grid provided energy, the community is thus becoming dependant on itself or becoming self sustainable. The community estimates that they have saved approximately 30% of energy from solar thermal heating systems, and two community buildings are powered solely from the sun and off the grid.  Additionally the implementation of this technology has had an impact on the social aspect of sustainability within the community. Programs such as the implementation of energy saving kits, including items such as low flow shower heads, and a children’s energy saving “goal” tree has created an additional 30% reduction in energy usage. In total over the last year between technology and social change the T’Sou-ke community has generated approximately 60% in energy savings. This is only the beginning components of an entirely sustainable community, with future focus being on food supply, and waste water recovery.

ainc-inac.gc.ca

An example of a large scale sustainable development is currently in place on the island of Samso, Denmark. The geographical location and terrain of Denmark and the island of Samso allows for great capacity for wind generation. As such the technology has been steadily utilized, and Denmark is the leader in wind power generation as well as production of wind turbine units. Denmark’s energy consumption is subsidized 18.9% by energy generated through wind power. Denmark’s next step is to focus on the introduction and citizen utilization of electric powered cars, powered of course by energy generated by wind.

smartplanet.com

These examples are just the beginning of sustainability in practice that is beginning to appear throughout the world. Whether it be “new urbanization” construction, or better inter city transportation; all companies, cities and countries are now being introduced to this idea of sustainability. Although these are all individual aspects of sustainable practice there are few examples of absolute sustainability in respect to addressing all social, economic and environmental aspects. However what we see right now is a step in the right direction. Every person influenced is another thinker, another contributor to society. The more exposed we are to these new ideas, the more connections can be made, and the more changes we will see in the world in the future.

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