There was a time in the past when companies selling services to the government didn’t need to worry about sustainability. That was the problem of heavy industry, farming, and the private sector.
Changes to government requirements, however, mean that contractors now need to take a more active approach to the issue and, in some cases, prove that they offer an eco-friendly service.
Take public works, for instance – the building of roads, bridges, tunnels, and sewer systems. Contractors not only need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to carry out the work, but that they can also do so in a way that protects the environment. And the only way to do that is to understand the relationship between the built environment, water use, land use, pollution, public health, and the community.
As the following infographic shows, the role of sustainability in public works has exploded over recent years. Contractors, for instance, are now being asked to create “green buildings” that emit fewer greenhouse gases, provide higher occupant satisfaction, and have lower maintenance costs.
What’s interesting is that going “green” is often a win-win. There are positive returns, for instance, for investing in buildings with lower energy requirements. Colorado experienced $634.3 million of environmental benefits from its solar panel project.
If you’re interested in how public works can be adapted to create sustainable communities, please see the following infographic. It charts some of the economic arguments for being more eco-friendly and provides some excellent examples of completed projects. The savings for both private enterprise and business are enormous.
Infographic by Norwich University