Sustainable development is a far-reaching approach to repair and avoid these problems. Sustainability is an ongoing process and something to strive for, rather than a static set of characteristics. Communities around the country are demonstrating that it is indeed possible to increase economic and community well-being in ways that promote a healthy environment. Community successes can be summarized by six basic strategies for sustainable economic development. Use resources efficiently to make your community thrive.
Resource efficiency is an essential foundation of sustainability.
Communities can significantly reduce environmental impacts and improve the economy by using energy, water and materials more efficiently, and by using better manufacturing techniques that cut pollution, waste and production costs. Current U.S. energy use demonstrates the enormous potential presented by resource efficiency. We can easily reduce current energy use by a third with existing cost-effective technologies. Energy efficiency is one of the most direct ways to address air pollution, acid rain, smog, climate change, oil spills, scarred landscapes and all the other environmental harms associated with the production and consumption of energy. When households, businesses and local governments implement resource efficiency improvements, they free up money for other purposes.