Sustainability is one the newest degree subjects that attempts to bridge social science with civic engineering and environmental science with the technology of the future. When we hear the word “sustainability” we tend to think of renewable fuel sources, reducing carbon emissions, protecting environments and a way of keeping the delicate ecosystems of our planet in balance.

What is Sustainability?
The definition of “sustainability” is the study of how natural systems function, remain diverse and produce everything it needs for the ecology to remain in balance. It also acknowledges that human civilization takes resources to sustain our modern way of life.

A growing buzzword in households is sustainability. For those that are new to the Eco

-friendly lifestyle, this term can be hard to understand. Since sustainability is an important single word that encompasses a large amount of actions, let’s get to the bottom of what is meant by sustainability as well as what that looks like.

Why is It So Important?
Sustainability is important for a very simple, very straightforward reason: we cannot maintain our quality of life as human beings, the diversity of life on Earth, or Earth’s ecosystems unless we embrace it. There are indications from all quarters and from the smallest to the largest scale that sustainability is something we must address. We will run out of fossil fuels. Thousands if not millions of animal species will become extinct. We will run out of lumber. We will damage the atmosphere beyond repair… If we don’t change.

And the root of that change lies in understanding and striving for sustainability—in our own homes, in our communities, in our ecosystems, and around the world.

By following a sustainable model, and understanding what is meant by sustainability, the upfront cost can be more but consumers get what they pay for. They are assured the model for growth is based in long-term, not short-term, success.