Wikipedia describes Sustainability as an economic, social, and environmental concept. It is intended to be a means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society and its members are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and planning and acting for the ability to maintain these ideals indefinitely. Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local neighborhood to the entire planet.
Renewed attention has focused on a philosophy for the design of buildings that challenge how conventional buildings perform in terms of environmental impact and occupant health, comfort and productivity. “Green”, “sustainable” and “high performance” are all terms used to describe this building philosophy.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), with which to measure buildings in terms of their green design. Our elected officials have proposed many programs and initiatives for a sustainable future.
Mayor Bloomberg in his speech on Tuesday December 12, 2006 said "Today, our future presents us with new challenges. And meeting them requires greatness from all of us, too: greatness of spirit, of purpose, and of vision. Now it is up to us to look ahead, as earlier generations did, and to begin planning for a better, stronger, and more sustainable future for our children, and for theirs.
The Mayor's plan for Greenyc will not only ensure a higher quality of life for generations of new Yorkers, it will also contribute to a 30% reduction in global warming emersions. IFMAGNY is dedicated in provide cutting edge information, and committed to its members.
In view of this IFMAGNY and ASHRAENY, in association with representatives from the USGBC are organizing an All-Day Seminar dedicated toward "Bridging the Gap from Design to Planning and Practice". This is a coordinated effort bringing together high-level speakers to present and educate property owners, managers and design professionals.
Some of the results from successes in sustainability is that newer green buildings operate at an efficiency level near where predicted in the design process, the role of Building Operators and Facility Management staff play a critical role in the sustainable future of these initiatives.
We have created this link as a resource for getting information on Sustainability and Renewable Power for you our members, property owners, Managers, Engineers, Architects and facilities professionals.