sus tain' -verb : to
support; to keep up or keep going
sus
tain' a ble -adjective :
capable of being continued
sus tain' a bil' i ty -noun :
the capacity to maintain
or continue
Sustainable Design -noun
: a planning approach that balances the relationships
between buildings, people and their environment
As a concept applied to environment issues, sustainability
is the equivalent of the well-known backpackers'
creed : "Take nothing with you, leave nothing behind." When
applied to design and construction of facilities
and landscapes, this translates
into the allocation and application of resources
such that
- energy
consumption is minimized,
- construction and demolition
wastes are recycled to the greatest extent
possible,
-
landscaping uses native
species, and stormwater runoff is captured and
treated before entering the watershed,
- a healthy indoor environment is produced, by
employing such strategies as natural daylighting,
low off-gassing materials, and fresh air regulators,
- materials, finishes, and equipment, and mechanical,
electrical, and plumbing systems are chosen with
total Life Cycle Costs taken into considerations,
and not just the initial cost of purchase and installation.
Starting with the design and construction of the WMU
Parkview Campus in the late 90s, Western Michigan
University has been committed to sustainable
and environmentally friendly construction and renovation
projects.
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Campus
Sustainability 
