In recent years, the developer community has taken a huge step toward acceptance of sustainable development. The concept of sustainability is becoming integral in changing development patterns, personal habits and government regulations, as well as in raising awareness about the effects that our behaviors have on the natural environment. Concurrently, the Bruntland Report’s definition of sustainability1 has become widely accepted, if not very operational.

As a result, change agents worldwide have defined sustainable development in various more specific terms. These include: 1) the three-prong social-economic-environmental balancing act popularized by Agenda 21 (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 1992); 2) the science-based Natural Step definition, resulting from expert consideration of the requirements for preserving habitat function; 3) the 10 Mel-bourne Principles emphasizing self-determination and empowerment; 4) the 23 Ahwahnee Principles emphasizing New Urbanist design preferences; 5) the nine Hannover Principles guiding biocompatible building design; and several others. ...

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