Suggested Citation:
Dessouky, Nermin, Chelsea Estevez, Alan Meier, Yara Moustafa, Richard Tutwiler (2017) Are We Sustainable? Promoting a Culture of Sustainability in Planned Communities with a Sustainability Focus. QScience Connect 2017 (2)

Sustainability has become a primary concern of new communities worldwide. With regard to planned communities specifically, sustainability planning has taken into account technical environmental standards as well as economic and technological factors. However, planned communities must consider social factors, or their “culture of sustainability” if their endeavors should prove to be truly successful in not only being environmentally sustainable, but also uphold and encourage sustainable human behavior. This paper will first consider the definition of cultures of sustainability. Cultures of sustainability vary from one community to the next and are defined by a strong hierarchy of values. How these values are translated differ, especially as it concerns the structure and governance of a community; values can either be communicated top-down through institutions or bottom-up using a community based-approach. Second, this paper will explore the methodologies communities use to make themselves sustainable. Third, the methodologies and cultures of sustainability explored through three case studies on three different continents: Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Throughout the three case studies, the obstacles and challenges to sustainability and the different forms it takes, environmental, economic, and social, are explored. In this study, it becomes clear that cultures of sustainability must first and foremost take into account the inclusion of the community in decision making processes as well as their embrace of community values and willingness to alter their behavior. Without a shared vision, concrete plan, and sense of community identity, sustainability goals can only last in the short term rather than create a real impact.

In this paper, we address the question of how sustainability practitioners promote a culture of sustainability within planned communities that have strategic sustainability goals. The general argument is that sustainability planning that incorporates technological, economic, and social factors is essential, and a clear vision and implementation plan are necessary to achieve sustainability goals. At the same time, as things do not always go as planned, planned communities must be capable of adjusting to unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, achieving short-term objectives could have unanticipated consequences that may require major revisions of plans and strategies to achieve the central vision.