Here in North America, we are world-class consumers. Our living standards are among the highest in the world, and to support them we are consuming resources at an impressive clip. Just think about what we devour on a day-to-day basis:

Energy resources. Oil to fuel our cars, trucks, buses, trains and planes. Natural gas and coal to generate electricity to power virtually everything we do at work and play.

Fresh water. For drinking, irrigating farm fields and lawns, cleaning, waste removal and manufacturing.

Other natural resources. Used to make the bottles, cans, paper, cardboard and other packaging and products we discard.

We’re also leaving our mark on the environment. Air pollution from automobiles and power plants causes health problems and may contribute to changes in our global climate.

Runoff from farm fields and discharges from manufacturing plants foul our rivers and lakes. Mountains of garbage and hazardous wastes are buried in landfills that grow larger every day.

And our consumption can hurt society as a whole. Workers who produce the goods we consume sometimes must work for low pay and labor in poor working conditions.

Freeways are increasingly clogged for longer periods of the day, limiting our mobility and hiking our collective blood pressure. We have fewer opportunities to enjoy outdoor recreation when water pollution closes our beaches, or exhaust from automobiles makes our air unhealthy to breathe.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that as much as we enjoy our comfortable lifestyles, we can’t go on in this way forever.

The resources we’re using are in limited supply. For example: some experts predict that the world’s oil supply will last only another forty years. Environmental damage and worsening social conditions create problems for our children and grandchildren to solve - not the kind of legacy we hope to leave them.

In short, our current lifestyles are "unsustainable." That’s not to suggest that we should reduce our living standards. Quite to the contrary, virtually everyone wants to at least maintain - if not continuously improve - their lifestyle. But in order to do so we must find ways to change.

We must use resources more efficiently
We have to minimize our negative impacts on the environment
We must improve peoples’ lives

Achieving all three of these objectives is what "sustainability" is all about.

In 1983, the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainability as: "A way of living that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The website Sustainability 101 puts it this way:

It is the commonsense notion that long-term prosperity and ecological health not only go together, they depend on one another. Sustainability means long-term cultural, ecologic and economic health and vitality. Or put another way, sustainability is about actions which are ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially just and humane.

And that’s what sustainability is: a concept that says that individuals, companies, governments and other organizations need to think about how the decisions they make and the actions they take every day affect what is called their "triple bottom line."

So what is this "triple bottom line?" In the past, when someone asked, "How would this decision affect our bottom line?" they were asking only about the financial impact. But the concept of sustainability says there are actually three bottoms lines to consider.

Economic - the financial impact on an individual’s income or spending, or on a company’s profits and losses Environmental - the impact on the air, water, land and global climate Social - the impact on an individual’s happiness, health and productivity, or the impact on the community’s welfare.

This can be a significant change in thinking. For businesses and other organizations, is a business approach that creates long term value by embracing opportunities and managing risks deriving from economic, environmental and social developments or changes. That means integrating sustainability into their decision-making processes and paying attention to how their actions affect the environment and society around them, in addition to how they affect the organization financially. Many are finding tremendous benefits from the process - that giving consideration to the environment and society helps their financial bottom line and makes them more attractive to investors and employees.

For example: A company replaces the lighting fixtures in its corporate headquarters building with brighter, more energy-efficient ones. Because the new fixtures use less energy, the company saves money. But the benefits don’t stop there. As a result of the company’s actions, the local electric utility company generates less electricity and therefore emits less air pollution - that’s the environmental impact. And the brighter lighting fixtures create better working conditions for employees - that’s the social impact. It’s the triple bottom line at work.

For individuals, adopting sustainability into our personal lives means making decisions that not only make financial sense for us, but also respect the environment and the communities in which we live.

Here’s another example: When two co-workers decide to rideshare to work every day, they both save money on gasoline and car expenses. That’s their financial reward. Driving one car, instead of two, puts less exhaust into the air - the environmental impact. And it decreases traffic congestion on the freeway - the social impact. That’s the triple bottom line for us as individuals.

Finally, a word about what sustainability isn’t. When some people hear the word "sustainability," they immediately think it’s entirely about the environment - something that only "tree huggers" are interested in. Sustainability is being embraced by businesses, organizations, governments and individuals worldwide who want to succeed financially while helping protect the environment and improve the lives of others at the same time.

There is growing interest in sustainability - among individuals and organizations. Consumers are demonstrating their acceptance of sustainable products. They’re buying more energy-efficient lights bulbs, appliances and electronics that bear the ENERGY STAR label. They’re also buying more energy-efficient cars. Toyota hoped to sell 300,000 gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles in 2005. General Motors expects to have more than one million of its fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2010. And some 70 percent of American consumers said in an August 2003 survey they are more likely to buy a product if they know the manufacturer uses environmentally friendly practices.

Interest in sustainable practices is also on the rise among companies, government bodies, educational institutions and other organizations.

A survey of 1,000 CEOs from 43 countries by PricewaterhouseCoopers indicated that 79% of these CEOs believe that sustainability is vital to the profitability of any company.Net Impact - a network of business people interested in social and environmental business issues - has seen its membership more than quadruple since 1998, while the number of its chapters nearly doubled over the same period. Says Benjamin Klasky, executive director of Net Impact, "It’s not just the tree-huggers anymore; it’s more mainstream." Robert Ridge, Vice President - Health, Safety and Environment for ConocoPhillips noted in a February 2003 speech, "… sustainable development is just good business."

Companies and other organizations are feeling increased pressures to demonstrate achievements in not only their financial performance, but also in how they impact the environment and social issues - the three elements of the triple bottom line.

Economic Issues
Pressures:
Organizations of every kind - corporations, government bodies, universities and others - are all trying to cut their expenses to stay competitive, attract investors or manage budget cuts.

Investors, meanwhile, are demanding full disclosure of the risks to a company’s profitability that may arise because of environmental, legal, health or safety issues, or rising energy costs. Anything that is perceived to be either a short or long-term risk to a company’s profitability makes that company less attractive to investors.

Sustainable Solutions:
By building new facilities - or renovating old ones - to meet "green" building standards organizations are improving their financial bottom lines by lowering the costs of new construction, site preparation and landscaping, waste disposal, utilities and maintenance while increasing the dollar value of their buildings. In addition, there’s research suggesting that companies that reduce their environmental impact perform better financially.

Disclosing these sustainable efforts helps shareholders better evaluate the risks of investing in their organizations.

For example: Upgrades to heating, air conditioning, ventilation and lighting resulted in nearly $1 million in cost savings for STERIS Corporation - a manufacturer of products for the health care industry headquartered in Mentor, Ohio.

Social Issues
Pressure:
Shareholder and other advocacy groups are pressuring companies to be better corporate citizens by improving working conditions for their employees and contributing to the communities in which they operate.

These same groups are also demanding that companies disclose more information about the social impacts of their business. A recent report by the World Economic Forum indicated that more than 70 CEOs surveyed believe that interest in these corporate citizenship issues is increasing among mainstream investors.

Sustainable Solutions: Companies that adopt sustainable practices in their buildings tend to have healthier, more productive environments for workers - and they have more resources available to support their local communities and institutions. Using specific guidelines, many companies are preparing sustainability reports with their annual reports to provide complete information to investors about how their operations impact the social conditions around them.

For example: Installation of a highly efficient power generation system at a military base in Petawawa, Ontario freed up funds and reduced the chances of a disruptive blackout, permitting Canadian military forces to focus on their mission of protecting citizens at home and abroad - an important social responsibility.

Environmental Issues
Pressure:
Some of these pressures come from the marketplace. These include:

• Growing interest among companies in buying and selling emissions credits - government permits that can be sold by companies that reduce their harmful emissions
• A realization that voluntary efforts may delay or avoid more costly government regulations
• A desire to improve their public image as an environmentally-conscious organization

  Other pressures are legal, such as:

• Increasing state and federal regulations
• The Kyoto Treaty requirements to reduce emissions that may contribute to global climate change

A combination of both Sustainable Solutions:

New and improved technologies that include improved lighting, building controls and windows

Sustainable practices such as recycling, reductions in water usage and environmental transportation options

For example: Replacement of an inefficient medical waste incinerator at the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah reduced the Center’s harmful emissions.

Green Buildings
One very visible way in which many companies are adopting sustainability is by making improvements to their buildings. Non-residential buildings in the U.S. offer plenty of ways to be more sustainable.

They consume 30-40% of the nation’s energy
They emit 30-40% of air pollution
They use 60% of electricity generated
They consume 25% of the water used
They contribute 35-40 of municipal solid waste
They use 25-30% of wood products

"Green" buildings are designed, built, renovated, operated or reused in ways that not only save energy and money, but also provide healthier workplaces that improve morale and productivity while reducing absenteeism.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating. The LEED rating system ensures that green buildings meet certain requirements for using energy, water and other resources more efficiently, protecting the health of people who occupy the building, improving employee productivity and reducing the overall impact of the building on the environment.

The improvements necessary for a facility to achieve LEED certification as a green building typically add to the cost of constructing or renovating the facility. However, at least one study estimates that the cost savings generated by the improvements pay back the original investment ten times over the life of the building.

There are hundreds of LEED-certified green buildings in countries around the world. Thousands more are either the construction or design phase and the number is growing each year as companies and organizations seek triple-bottom-line benefits.

Adopting sustainability at work and home means thinking about the economic, social and environmental consequences of the decisions we make every day. Consider these things.

Am I using energy as efficiently as I could?

What if I started turning off my computer when I left my office?

Is the temperature of my refrigerator at home set properly?

Could I turn off lights at work when they’re not in use?

Should I replace my lights bulbs at home with compact fluorescent lights?

Am I doing may part to maintain good indoor air quality?

Would it help if I kept my office window closed?

Should I have the air ducts in my home cleaned?

Do I recycle as many products as possible?

What could I give to charity rather than throw away?

Do I save water whenever possible?

Could I install a high-efficiency showerhead at home?

Could I use environmentally friendly transportation more often?

Ride-share or take the bus to work some of the time?

Ride my bike more when I’m close to home?

Do I use healthy and safe cleaning products and techniques?

ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Results are already adding up. In 2004 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR®, saved enough energy to power 24 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the exhaust from 20 million cars - all while saving $10 billion.

For Business Because a strategic approach to energy management can produce twice the savings as typical approaches - for the environment as well as the financial bottom line - EPA's ENERGY STAR® partnership offers a proven energy management strategy that helps measure current energy performance, set goals, track savings and reward improvements.

EPA provides an innovative energy performance rating system that businesses have already used for more than 21,000 buildings across the country. EPA also recognizes top performing buildings with the ENERGY STAR®.

ENERGY STAR® is a dynamic government/industry partnership that offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions, making it easy to save money while protecting the environment for future generations.

In 1992 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR® as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Computers and monitors were the first labeled products. Through 1995, EPA expanded the label to additional office equipment products and residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy for particular product categories. The ENERGY STAR® label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. EPA has also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.

Through its partnerships with more than 8,000 private and public sector organizations, ENERGY STAR® delivers the technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose energy-efficient solutions and best management practices. ENERGY STAR® has successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations and consumers about $10 billion in 2004 alone. Over the past decade, ENERGY STAR® has been a driving force behind the more widespread use of such technological innovations as LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power management systems for office equipment and low standby energy use.

Energy prices continue to be a hot news topic and a major concern for consumers. ENERGY STAR® provides solutions: a trustworthy label on over 40 product categories (and thousands of models) for the home and office. These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. ENERGY STAR® also provides easy-to-use home and building assessment tools so that building managers can start down the path to greater efficiency and cost savings.

For information on how your company/building can realize significant energy savings, visit the ENERGY STAR® Web site.

WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its mission is to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services.

Why WaterSense?

The growing population in our country is putting stress on available water supplies. Americans use an average of 100 gallons of water per day—enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses. Currently, 36 states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortage by 2013. By using water more efficiently, we can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money and protect the environment.

For homes - WaterSense has developed a labeling program for high-efficiency toilets. In 2007, WaterSense labeled toilets will be available. WaterSense is also in the process of developing specification for high-efficiency bathroom sink faucets and faucet accessories.

For your yard or landscape - Nationwide landscape irrigation is estimated to account for roughly one-third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons a day. Up to 50 percent of water used for landscape irrigation is lost due to over-watering, evaporation or bad irrigation system design or maintenance. WaterSense is labeling certification programs for irrigation professionals that include water-efficient principles and practices.

For tomorrow - WaterSense has products on the horizon including showerheads, commercial steam sterilizers and drip irrigation systems. With the help of WaterSense, families will be able to save more than 27,000 gallons of water every year when they install water-efficient fixtures throughout the home.

History of WaterSense

In 2004, EPA stakeholders held meetings across the country to get input on designing a national, voluntary market-based program for promoting water-efficient products. When 2005 came, the EPA began a specification development process for high-efficiency toilets. They started to develop criteria for endorsing certification programs for irrigation professionals.

The EPA officially launched WaterSense in 2006. Draft-specifications for certification programs for irrigation professionals and high-efficiency toilets were also announced. The EPA invited promotional partners, certifying organizations and certified irrigation professionals to join the program. At the beginning of 2007, manufacturers, retailers and distributors were invited to join the program as well.

For information on how your company/building can realize significant water savings, visit the WaterSense Web site.