WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The concept of sustainable development can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core is an
approach to development that looks to balance different, and often competing, needs against an awareness
of the environmental, social and economic limitations we face as a society.
All too often, development is driven by one particular need, without fully considering the wider or future
impacts. We are already seeing the damage this kind of approach can cause, from large-scale financial
crises caused by irresponsible banking, to changes in global climate resulting from our dependence on
fossil fuel-based energy sources. The longer we pursue unsustainable development, the more frequent and
severe its consequences are likely to become, which is why we need to take action now.

So is it all just about the environment?

Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable development. One
implication of not doing so is climate change.

But the focus of sustainable development is far broader than just the environment. It's also about ensuring
a strong, healthy and just society. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and
future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating equal
opportunity.

If sustainable development focuses on the future, does that mean we lose out now?
Not necessarily. Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both for the future
and the present. We might need to change the way we work and live now, but this doesn't mean our
quality of life will be reduced.

A sustainable development approach can bring many benefits in the short to medium term, for example:

Savings - As a result of SDC scrutiny, government has saved over £60m by improving efficiency across
its estate.

Health & Transport - Instead of driving, switching to walking or cycling for short journeys will save you
money, improve your health and is often just as quick and convenient.

How does it affect me?

The way we approach development affects everyone. The impacts of our decisions as a society have very
real consequences for people's lives. Poor planning of communities, for example, reduces the quality of
life for the people who live in them. (Relying on imports rather than growing food locally puts the UK at
risk of food shortages.)

Sustainable development provides an approach to making better decisions on the issues that affect all of
our lives. By incorporating health plans into the planning of new communities, for instance, we can
ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and leisure facilities. (By encouraging more
sustainable food supply chains, we can ensure the UK has enough food for the long-term future.)

How do we make it happen?

We all have a part to play. Small actions, taken collectively, can add up to real change. However, to
achieve sustainability in the UK, we believe the Government needs to take the lead. The SDC's job is to
help make this happen, and we do it through a mixture of scrutiny, advice and building organisational
capacity for sustainable developent.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

The World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainability as development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.

When applying this complex concept to architecture, it then refers to design that creates healthy living
environments while aiming to minimise negative environmental impacts, energy consumption, and use of
human resources.

Sustainable architecture is reflected in a building’s materials, construction methods, resource use and
design in general. The design must also facilitate sustainable operation during the building life cycle,
including its ultimate disposal. While it has to be functional and aesthetically superior, the space has to be
constructed with the mind-set of achieving long-term energy and resource efficiency.
Sustainable architecture is also referred to as green architecture or environmental architecture. It
challenges architects to produce smart designs and use available technologies to ensure that structures
generate minimal harmful effects to the ecosystem and the communities.

If you are not from the construction world, it may be difficult to get your head around this concept so
giving an over simplistic example at this stage may be necessary.

Imagine that there is a plot of land that you think is conveniently located for you to build your house. The
problem, however, is that there are 100 trees planted on it and that these trees are the last of their kind. If
sustainability is not a concern, what you’ll probably do is cut down all the trees to clear the space and use
all the lumber to build your house – not caring if nobody else gets the chance to use the same kind of trees
in the future.

This is the opposite of sustainable architecture. Sustainable architecture means putting environmental
factors into consideration:

Is there a nearby piece of land you can use instead?

How can you use some of the wood from the trees without completely depleting the entire plantation so
others can also benefit?
Could you perhaps still build your house in the space without cutting down all the trees?

These are just some factors that should be considered when approaching the sustainable concept in design
and construction. Sustainable architecture needs to recognise the existing natural resources and
environmental conditions in the construction site and how to incorporate these into the build.
GREEN BUILDING CODE
The Philippine Green Building Code seeks to improve the efficiency of building performance by adopting
measures that promote resource management effiency and site sustainability while minimizing the
negative impact of buildings on human health and the environment. The Code proposes a set of standards
which apply to efficient use of resources, site selection, planning, design, construction, use, occupancy,
operation and maintenance.

The Green Building Code shares the following principles: 1) the technical professionals, developers,
contractors, property managers and building owners involved in the planning, design, construction and
management of buildings have the opportunity to help government address the adverse effects of climate
change by ensuring that buildings are planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained to the
required efficiency level; 2) resources must be used efficiently to equitably meet the developmental and
environmental needs of the present and future generations; 3) occupants of green buildings will benefit
from improved indoor environmental quality which promotes higher productivity and better comfort.

BERDE
The Philippine government has recognized BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design
Excellence) as the Philippines’ National Voluntary Green Building Rating System under the Department
of Energy’s Philippine Energy Efficiency Project-Efficient Building Initiative. It is a tool for assessing
construction projects’ resource efficiency and environmental performance. BERDE assesses a structure’s
performance besides current national and municipal construction and environmental rules, regulations,
and mandated criteria.
BERDE, which aims to mitigate the country’s climate change consequences, requires property developers
to align their building and operation activities with the best sustainability standards and submit projects
for green verification.
In 2009, the BERDE Program was established by the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) as
an appropriate response to the Philippine building industry's need to proactively address the negative
impacts of climate change. The program was established to develop the Philippines' own national
voluntary green building rating system to facilitate green building projects in the country, inspire
confidence in the industry, and build trust in the industry.

The BERDE Green Building Rating System is developed under the BERDE Program. BERDE is a tool to
assess, measure, monitor, and certify the performance of green building projects above and beyond
existing national and local building and environmental laws, regulations, and mandatory standards.

BERDE is recognized by the Philippine government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), as the
National Voluntary Green Building Rating System.
LEED
What is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)?
LEED or (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) was developed by the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC) to set a benchmark for design, construction, maintenance, and operation of high-
performance green buildings and homes.

According to USGBC, Green building is the practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings
to maximize occupant health and productivity, use fewer resources, reduce waste and negative
environmental impacts, and decrease life cycle costs.

LEED Certification is the most widely used global standard that recognizes buildings that are efficient,
cost-effective, and better for occupants and the environment.

LEED certification can be applied to new or existing buildings and homes looking to become sustainable.

SOURCES:
https://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/what-is-sustainable-development.html
https://www.barker-associates.co.uk/service/architecture/what-is-sustainable-architecture/
https://climate-laws.org/geographies/philippines/policies/philippine-green-building-code-p-d-1096
https://www.ebpsupply.com/blog/what-is-leed-certification
https://berdeonline.org/#about-berde-what-is-berde
https://pinoybuilders.ph/what-is-berde/