Kabar Prinsip Keberlanjutan?

Banyak bertebaran definisi keberkelanjutan (sustainability) di buku, internet, maupun sumber2 shahih lainnya. Dan beberapa di antaranya masih pula mencoba mengkristalikan peristilahan ini lewat berbagai seminar, konferensi. Juga tarik2an ego dan kepentingan antara para economist maupun environmentalist. Namun, hampir semua sepakat bahwa kata2 sakti dan sedikit abstrak “sustainability” atau “keberlanjutan”ini memang2 harus benar2 menjadi pertimbangan utama kehidupan manusia di muka bumi. Dari sekian banyak sektor kehidupan ini, pembangunan fisik lah yang menjadi tumpuan terdepan bagi penerapan prinsip2nya. Terutama ini dihubungkan dengan isu pemanasan global.

Prinsip2 nya pun ada banyak variannya. Yang paling gampang dan “mrantasi” (mencakup semuanya) adalah merefer pada prinsip umum yakni definisi resmi pertama yang dikeluarkan oleh Brundtland Comission tahun 1987 (resminya World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)) yakni pembangunan saat ini harus mempertimbangkan kebutuhan anak cucu kita (development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs). Dalam beberapa aspek pembangunan, muncul lagi beberapa prinsip khusus lainnnya yang sangat beragam.

Khusus di arsitektur dan urbanism, prinsip2 pembangunan berkelanjutan ini telah mengalami pendetilan atau lebih di-pecah2 lagi ke dalam poin2 aksi yang lebih bisa (langsung) diterapkan. Lalu muncul istilah2 “sustainable architecture/city” sampai “green design/architecture/building/city”. Salah satu yang kerap jadi rujukan adalah Prinsip Hannover (Hannover Principles) yang diluncurkan tahun 1992 dipimpin oleh William McDonough dalam rangka pembuatan “design guidelines” (petunjuk kerja) pembangunan Expo 2000 di Hannover. Dan yang terakhir banyak disinggung, terutama oleh publik Amerika adalah Nantucket Principles, yakni kesepakatan yang dihasilkan oleh banyak pribadi maupun firm (kantor) design dan arsitektur di Nantucket, Amerika, September 2002. Kesepakatan yang cukup penting itu dinamai Nantucket Principles.

Namun prinsip2 itu tetap lah kesepakatan yang kadang masih sering diabaikan oleh para pembuat atau masyarakat yang merasa diwakili dalam kesepakatan itu. Sorotan ini seperti ditulis oleh James P. Cramer dalam tulisan pembukanya “An Ethos of Sustainable Design” di Design Intelligence terbaru, a.l.: Many in the design professions have ignored the warning signs despite the efforts of leading voices in the profession and the increasing number of large and specialized progressive firms. Apparently, those slow to respond – rather than lead – have been waiting for more proof or for their clients to take the initiative. Perhaps they’ve been waiting for the marketplace to address issues of energy and sustainability. Ini di negara yang telah sadar membuat kesepakatan2 “lumayan” itu, lalu di Indonesia sendiri seberapa jauh komitmennya ya?

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The Hannover Principles

William McDonough and Michael Braungart 1992

1. Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition.

2. Recognize interdependence. The elements of human design interact with and depend upon the natural world, with broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognizing even distant effects.

3. Respect relationships between spirit and matter. Consider all aspects of human settlement including community, dwelling, industry and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material consciousness.

4. Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural systems and their right to co-exist.

5. Create safe objects of long-term value. Do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creation of products, processes or standards.

6. Eliminate the concept of waste. Evaluate and optimize the full life-cycle of products and processes, to approach the state of natural systems, in which there is no waste.

7. Rely on natural energy flows. Human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use.

8. Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not as an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.

9. Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge. Encourage direct and open communication between colleagues, patrons, manufacturers and users to link long term sustainable considerations with ethical responsibility, and re-establish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity.

The Hannover Principles should be seen as a living document committed to the transformation and growth in the understanding of our interdependence with nature, so that they may adapt as our knowledge of the world evolves.

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Nantucket Principles: Green and Sustainable Design

On September 28-30, 2002, 85 design firm professionals and A/E/C leaders gathered on Nantucket, Massachusetts, for the Design Futures Council’s Architects’ Environment Summit. The think-tank session focused on analyzing, discussing,and debating the trends and issues that will influence green building and sustainable design over the next three years. During the event participants developed an action agenda to equip firms and organizations of all sizes with a recommended strategy agenda to facilitate the successful movement forward in green and sustainable design.

What follows was authored and unanimously agreed to by the Delegates of the Design Futures Council at the Architects’ Environment Summit, Nantucket, September 2002.

**We extend a special thanks to the 2002 Design Futures Council’s Architects’ Environment Summit’s Delegates. Without each of their contributions these principles would not have been possible. Further, an additional thanks to those Delegates that edited and finalized this document over the past months.

Nantucket Principles: A Policy Agenda for Architecture and Design Firms and Clients on Green and Sustainable Design

Current practices in the design and construction of the built environment are contributing to our

Accelerating Environmental Crises.

The architecture, engineering, and interior design professions and their clients can be a critical part of the solutions … solutions that point to a bright, alternative Future.Recognizing the fragility of our environment, design firms and clients should redefine themselves

To engage
To listen
To learn
To educate
To act
toward a strong sustainable model.

It is time to operate under a new paradigm, a new set of values, a new set of ethics, and with new awareness of the impact of design.

Under these Nantucket Principles, design and construction organizations and clients commit to the principles of sustainable development,including:

Environmental Awareness
Social/cultural equity
Economic fitness
Public policy
Technological ingenuity

Design excellence shall incorporate by definition the meeting of sustainable principles. We believe that there is no conflict between sustainability and the art of architecture and design.

Our future and our solutions start here, today.

Design needs to focus on providing environments for life to flourish.

It is time to redefine our conscience and look toward expansion.

We must expand our view of the client to include tomorrow’s child.

We must expand our obligations to include the health of the public environment and the planet.

We must expand our consideration of the community, site, and space to always include the larger systems and influences.

We will integrate these models of sustainability in our future work:

Sustainable Development is that which meets all the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.*

Design for Sustainability requires awareness of the full short and long-term consequences of any transformation of the environment. Sustainable design is the conception and realization of environmentally sensitive and responsible expression as a part of the evolving matrix of nature. **

* From the U.N. Brundtland Commission, 1987.
** Part of the Hannover Principles, 1992.

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The Nantucket Principles: An action agenda – next steps for architecture and design professionals and firms:

Lead with vision and integrity:

Hold a sustainable summit in your office to educate and empower your employees.

Develop a plan of action for your firm’s sustainable agenda.

Mandate firm and staff accountability toward sustainable action.

Empower internal flamekeepers to mentor staff and external flamekeepers to guide the firm to day-to-day sustainable action.

Build a Knowledge Base on sustainability within your firm.

Encourage your staff and fellow principals to actively participate in organizations that support green values.

Identify measurements of success: life cycles, issues, user success, durability, connection to the larger community.

Broaden the profession:

Become a more responsible professional and adopt the role of sustainable design educator within your firm, with your clients, and in your community.

Engage with design schools and listen to the students’ perspectives about sustainability.

Communicate the benefits of sustainability to the client and community at large, including research, shared knowledge and case studies.

Connect with fellow design professionals, schools and other contributors
to the industry to plan future directions toward sustainability.

Develop a process which points to a holistic approach to sustainability
that involves all disciplines (i.e. community, public sector) and seemingly unrelated or unexpected disciplines that can add value.

Redefine success goals in terms of service

To the users.
To the community.
To your clients.

Collaborate with leaders in your region to align larger development strategies that are more inline with sustainable principles, including:

Transit/development solutions.
Preservation of larger natural eco-systems.
Commitment to existing urban centers.
Reducing dependence on fossil fuel.

Promote the development and use of ecological sustainable building products and components.

Envision your future victory and celebrate each increment of success. Sustainability is now clearly an ethical issue for us as professionals.

It shall be reflected in all of our future work.

Authored and unanimously agreed to by the Delegates of the Design Futures Council at the Architects’ Environment Summit, Nantucket, September 2002