For some buildings, sustainability is, at best, a minor consideration when compared to resilience. Resilience and sustainability are buzzwords in the building industry, though their meanings and relationship are often confused. In many discussions, the terms are used interchangeably, but there are significant differences in the scope and application of sustainability and resilience. While sustainability is an important concern that, indeed, plays a role in resilient design, the terms are not interchangeable, and their goals are sometimes in conflict.
As discussed in last month’s column, resilience involves preparing for, absorbing, recovering from, and adapting to extreme events and changes over time. Meanwhile, the United Nations defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”