- Sustainable energy systems that provide clean, renewable sources of heat and electricity can also increase energy security, employment, investment opportunities and air quality.
- Sustainable water and wastewater systems and strategies that safely manage our water can reduce the burden on water supplies, protect our aquatic environment, and reduce our dependence on other energy sources.
- The City of Vancouver, British Columbia, will heat homes for more than 4,000 people from heat extracted from one wastewater pumping station.
- Sustainable solid waste management systems and strategies divert waste from landfills and utilize waste as a valuable source of materials and sometimes energy. Some programs focus on recycling and composting; others on capturing methane from decomposition and turning it into heat and electricity for uses nearby. Zero waste is a key target many communities are now working toward.
- The City of Albuquerque has committed to a zero waste target and is planning to eliminate its landfill in 2030.
- Sustainable stormwater management systems protect environmental water quality and lessen the burden on wastewater treatment infrastructure, and can also provide neighborhood amenities and enhance local ecosystems.
The infrastructure systems that underpin our buildings and neighborhoods play a strong role in sustainability, and can provide other community benefits as well.
