What does “sustainable building and development” really mean?
The phrase “sustainable building and development” is best described as balancing the need for development (i.e building construction) and growth (i.e population increase) against the need to protect the natural environment. The ultimate goal is to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability for future generations to meet their needs. What is Low Impact Development (LID)? One approach to sustainable development is called Low Impact Development (LID). Without development, rainfall naturally evaporates, absorbs into the ground, or is taken up by the roots of plants and trees. Now, with an influx of buildings, infrastructure, and lawns, rainfall is becoming stormwater runoff, often times carrying pollutants to streams, rivers, and lakes. LID is a set of techniques that mimic natural watershed hydrology by slowing, evaporating/transpiring, and filtering water before it reaches a stream or Lake Washington. LID contrasts with traditional drainage techniques that
