Vol. 1, No. 1 - January 2013
Take the Green Initiative is a quarterly publication of the Federal Highway Administration, Western Federal Lands Highway Division.
Sponsor: Dan Donovan
Editor: Marili Green Reilly
Editorial Advisory Board: Brian Harrison, Wendy Hull, Connie Kratovil, George Snyder, Walt Stong, Telina Thompson.
Our mission is to provide a forum where the FHWA and other agencies can share best practices. Reader contributions are welcome. Share your agency's experiences by sending photos, articles, web-links, or ideas to wfl.green.team@dot.gov.
Going Green: A Quarterly Publication on Green Initiatives from WFL
Sustainability: One Perspective
The term "sustainability" is becoming an overused word that is mistakenly associated with things that are not truly sustainable. We're probably all aware of products that are touted as sustainable when we know that isn't the case. Instead, the term is being used to gain additional support for something that might otherwise not be able to stand on its own.
Sustainability is sometimes seen as being synonymous with environmentally friendly. But just because something is environmentally friendly doesn't necessarily make the product or idea sustainable. By definition in order for it to be truly sustainable, the idea or product must be not only environmentally friendly, but also socially acceptable and economically practical. Without this trifecta, it can't flourish, and if it can't flourish, it isn't sustainable.
Think about it a minute: An idea might be environmentally and socially acceptable but not economically practical -- in other words it costs too much. Will this product continue to be used? It may be used for some period of time, but not indefinitely. Negative financial pressures will eventually overtake the positive influences and its use will be discontinued. Meeting all three factors is a win-win-win idea, so how can you go wrong? Our challenge is finding the win-win-win trifecta, the truly sustainable ideas.
At Western Federal Lands Highway Division, this point came to life several years ago when we were considering implementing an office-wide recycling program. We knew it was the right thing to do environmentally and that employees were supportive of the idea, but we were not sure about the cost. The uncertainty about the costs involved caused lukewarm support; however when we determined that a recycling program would actually save the office money, we received full, unconditional support, and had no reason not to move forward.
Now, nearly 8 years later, our recycling and composting program continues to be a big success, is one of the pillars of our Going Green program, and helped to launch a broader sustainability program within our office.
Dan Donovan,
Director, Office of Program Administration