Sustainability is a form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  Sustainable design shares that big-picture view of how our choices affect more than the present. Effective sustainable design is a comprehensive approach to selecting and integrating products and processes that account for long-term consumer satisfaction and environmental conservation.

Sustainable design is about building the future, not just a structure. Sustainability is as much about process as it is about product. Seeing design as a process empowers “green” designers to better evaluate and anticipate the environmental, economical and social impacts and costs of building products.

Green building strategies

Buildings have a substantial impact on the health and well-being of people and the planet. Green building is the practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings to use fewer resources, reduce waste and negative environmental impacts, and decrease costs.

Below are a list of resources to help educate and promote green and sustainable design features:

Solar Map Application

California Green Building Standards

Water Wise - Around the Yard

California Department of Water Resources - Water Conservation Tips

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

​Learn about the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, an internationally-recognized green building certification system. For more information on what LEED measures, who uses LEED, and how to achieve certification, click on the link above.