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Sustainability on a smarter planet
publication date: Jun 19, 2011
"A new understanding of sustainability that is operational and economical, as well as environmentally sound. Forward-thinking leaders around the world are harnessing and analyzing these data flows to create end-to-end, sustainable infrastructures—enabling people, buildings, campuses and entire cities to interact in new ways. In the process, they are changing operational behavior to sustain growth, while reaping economic benefits and achieving measurable environmental results. From government agencies to retailers to financial institutions, organizations worldwide are assessing the current and future impact of their activities. And that includes their impact on the planet. For example, by 2025, buildings will use more energy than any other category of "consumer." (Already today, in the United States, they represent 72% of energy use.) And 40% of the world's current output of raw materials goes into buildings. That's about 3 billion tons… annually. Given increasingly finite resources, businesses depend on balanced natural ecosystems for raw materials, water, energy and the physical health of their employees and customers. They depend on thriving community systems for labor, new sources of innovation and customers. And given the links among its systems, an enterprise committed to practicing sustainability considers both the immediate and far-reaching consequences of any action it takes. http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/
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