Sustainability – it’s everyone’s job

Sustainability in building planning is growing in importance, and in the awareness of designers and users. Focus is mostly on the macro-level of overall building design, with few efforts targeting micro-level aspects. The purpose of this paper is to explore sustainability issues with regard to Library buildings, services, and operations using the experience of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Library.

This paper focuses on the design, operation, and maintenance of the physical infrastructure. It further discusses the impact of changing organizational models on the sustainability of the facility and environment. Sustainability efforts at HKUST Library provide examples throughout.

Too often, there is little focus on sustainability efforts beyond the two poles of new building design and the recycling of consumables. It is also important to position sustainable planning and design throughout the various Library processes, with an emphasis on issues relating to the physical building and infrastructure. Having a slogan, like “Sustainability – It’s Our Shared Responsibility” will be ineffective without making it part of concrete elements like expected job duties, and incorporating it as an expected element of process design.

The experience of HKUST Library is an exemplar of the growing combined focus on macro- and micro-sustainability efforts throughout and organization. Changes in management and operations can lead to notable sustainability benefits, along with an improved learning environment and an improved standard of facilities quality and care.