Sustainable living
You treat things differently when they are loaned to you—perhaps with a little more care and respect. You want to return them in the same shape or even better than when you received them.
In an ideal world, we would all extend this thinking to our relationship with the earth. As the ancient American Indian proverb says, “Treat the earth well: It was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.”
This is where sustainable living comes into play. In the simplest terms, sustainable living just means using less of the earth’s resources and replenishing what you do take in. It is not a new concept. In fact, Henry David Thoreau first addressed the idea of sustainable living in 1854 in Walden, a book he wrote while living on Walden Pond. Thoreau was ahead of his time as he pondered the human impact on nature and whether society could continue on the same path without harming the natural balance of our world.
The human factor
Since the dawn of the industrial age, we humans have been exponentially increasing our consumption of the earth’s resources. Technological advances put us in control of the environment, and we used this control to tap into non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels. It wasn’t until late in the 20th century that we began to realize just how dependent we had become on these resources and the destruction that dependency had wrought on our environment. Slowly, public awareness began to grow around the issue of sustainable living and the three interdependent needs that must met for our short- and long-term survival: the generation of economic wellbeing; environmental improvement and renewable energy; and responsibility toward society.
Indeed, there is now clear scientific evidence that humanity is and has been living beyond sustainable means and that an unprecedented collective effort is needed to return human use of natural resources to within sustainable limits. Today, millions of individuals are responding to this call to action by refocusing their lives with sustainability as a priority. Many people are reducing their carbon footprints—their portion of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming—by changing the way they travel, consume energy, what they eat, and the products and services they buy. Like Thoreau, they are honoring the balance and symbiotic relationship humans have with the world around us.
North American businesses and communities are also delivering on the higher demand for sustainable living. There are more products than ever before that use recycled materials, alternative energy sources and sustainable practices. Waste management services—from recycling computer equipment to delivering clean cloth diapers—aim to make sustainable living more convenient. City planners and developers recognize the demand for urban living and have delivered mixed-use properties that make work, home and play within walking distance.
Leading by example
At ACCIONA, we take an active role in living a sustainable life. In fact, we model our business for the future, proving that a company can be socially responsible while creating shareholder vaule. We use 98 percent of the material in old plants to build new plants. We have implemented a zero-landfill program and avoid 96 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per week. The roofs of our factories are dotted with skylights that fill the factory floor with ambient light, reduce electricity use and improve working conditions. We use recycled paper for all printing and sponsor mass transit for our employees. We are also leading the sustainable living movement in several areas of life and work.
Sustainable business – As a sustainable business, ACCIONA strives to minimize the environmental impact of its work while delivering value to its customers and shareholders.
Sustainable transport – To minimize fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, ACCIONA provides incentives for employees to take public transportation, car share, bike and walk to work.
Sustainable building – ACCIONA is a pioneer in the construction of sustainable, responsible and energy-efficient projects that optimize comfort and livability.