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Home    Sustainable Okotoks    10 Branches of Sustainability

10 Branches of Sustainability

Sustainable Okotoks has become a chosen way of life for our residents and businesses. Our community believes in working together holistically in maintaining Okotoks' standard of living and creating a better world for our future generations.
 
 

 

 

 

Water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building & Design

 

Waste

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Space

 

 

Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planning & Development

 

 

Air

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation

 

Community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economy

 

 

 
These branches build off the four pillars of Sustainable Okotoks: environmental stewardship, social conscience, economic opportunity, and fiscal responsibility. Decision making, like nature itself, is inter-connected as a system; one branch impacts the other, requiring careful consideration of trade-offs and balance in the decision making process.  
 
 
An Okotoks Definition(s) of Sustainability
  • We should live within the carrying capacity of the natural environment, including our watershed;
  • We should leave the next generation with equal or better opportunities than the present generation has enjoyed;
  • We should create a harmonious balance between economic opportunity, social conscience, environmental stewardship, and fiscal responsibility;
  • We must look beyond traditional municipal boundaries and urban/rural boundaries to incorporate regional ecosystem boundaries;
  • Successful sustainability is a grass roots initiative that must be supported by the community.

Sustainability is not a magic pill that can be taken once. It is not a single tool or design feature. It is not a short term vision. Rather, it is a long range philosophy towards design, construction and utilization and maintenance of the built environment that attempts to reduce our human footprint.

Why should we be so ambitious in our thinking, and in our effort?
 
A Better Pocketbook
Energy and water costs are rising and conservation technologies are getting cheaper. Invest now in cheaper bills down the road.
 
For the Sake of our Children and Grandchildren
We care about our children's future. We depend on the services nature provides for us. We need to defend, protect and enhance our environment if we want to leave the world a better place for future generations.
 
It's the Right Thing to Do
By selecting a greener future we choose to have a reduced impact on the environment and influence the direction of developing technologies and material.