Our Mission
The Sustainability Project exists to inspire change in the built environment of our region in order to improve the quality of life, in harmony with nature, for this and future generations.
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News
The Sustainability Project presents the documentary film Nothing Like Chocolate on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 5:30 pm at the Unitarian Society ($10).
Q&A with Director Kum-Kum Bhavnani after the film, and chocolate tasting provided by Chocolate Maya.
More information and buy tickets
TSP Serves as the client for Assessing Decentralized Wastewater in Santa Barbara County – A Bren School Master Thesis Project (read more)
Ecofact
V.7 n.5 Good and Well Built Environments (pt.2)
By Barbara Hirsch
Creating a new space, or improving an existing one, we can use the same guidelines for promoting our own health and well being, and those of the greater community – what went into the materials we choose, how to reduce our consumption of resources – tools for living on a healthier planet. Here are a few, extracted from an information packed document created for The Sustainability Project by architects and others in related fields, linked below.
- Use the most environmentally sound products you can afford. Choose materials that minimize environmental and health impacts, when possible considering extraction, manufacturing, packaging, transport, installation and final disposal.
- Consider durability, as waste is reduced when repair and replacement are not required.
- Reduce demands on nonrenewable resources, such as old growth lumber. Salvaged and reclaimed lumber is often available. FSC (Forest Stewardship Certified) lumber is a renewable resource.
- Minimize use of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other toxins. Examples are low or zero VOC paints and other finishes, now readily available, and non-toxic pretreated lumber, which prevents termite and fungi damage. Look for plywood and fiberboard whose binders are formaldehyde free.
- Energy- saving products and alterations can be incorporated into existing buildings for comfort and money savings, e.g. energy efficient windows and insulation.
- When shopping for new appliances and plumbing fixtures, keep water and energy use in mind.
- Use and recycle unused materials. Places like Habitat for Humanity and Art from Scrap may be be glad to offer them to others.
“The United States alone has consumed more resources since 1945 than all of humanity had consumed prior to that time.”
