Web Site: Sustainability: Looking to Make Big Changes?

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Green Construction
by Jane Smith Last Updated Oct 25, 2023 28 views this year
Green Roofs and Living Walls
by Jane Smith Last Updated Oct 25, 2023 74 views this year
Sustainable Agriculture
by Jane Smith Last Updated Aug 28, 2024 41 views this year

US Department of Agriculture
"We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management."
US Environmental Protection Agency
"The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters."
Federal Office of Sustainability
The Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer leads development of policies, programs, and partnerships to advance sustainability and climate resilient Federal operations. Policy information and national progress towards environmental goals can be found here.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The IDNR exists "to manage, conserve and protect Illinois' natural, recreational and cultural resources, further the public's understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promote the education, science and public safety of Illinois' natural resources for present and future generations."
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
"The mission of the Illinois EPA is to safeguard environmental quality, consistent with the social and economic needs of the State, so as to protect health, welfare, property and the quality of life."

Organizations for Sustainability

Earthjustice
"Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit public interest environmental law organization."
Environmental Defense Fund
"We are Environmental Defense Fund, the organization that is all-in on climate — the greatest challenge of our time. Our game-changing solutions put people at the center of all we do."
The Nature Conservancy
"The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive."
Sierra Club
"The Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the independent fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs."
U.S. Sustainability Alliance
The U.S. Sustainability Alliance is a group of farmers, fishermen and foresters who together explore and share their values and successful experiences regarding U.S. sustainability and conservation programs and practices.

Careers in Sustainability

Thinking about a career focused on sustainability? Try one of these!

Sustainability Coordinator
Environmental Consultant
Research Scientist
Animal Rehabilitation Technician
Residential Energy Efficiency Program Coordinator
Director of Community Outreach
Grant Writer

Books

A Bright Future by Joshua S. Goldstein; Staffan A. Qvist; Steven Pinker (Foreword by) The first book to offer a proven, fast, inexpensive, and practical way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change. As climate change quickly approaches a series of turning points that guarantee disastrous outcomes, a solution is hiding in plain sight. Several countries have already replaced fossil fuels with low-carbon energy sources, and done so rapidly, in one to two decades. By following their methods, we could decarbonize the global economy by midcentury, replacing fossil fuels even while world energy use continues to rise. But so far we have lacked the courage to really try. In this clear-sighted and compelling book, Joshua Goldstein and Staffan Qvist explain how clean energy quickly replaced fossil fuels in such places as Sweden, France, South Korea, and Ontario. Their people enjoyed prosperity and growing energy use in harmony with the natural environment. They didn't do this through personal sacrifice, nor through 100 percent renewables, but by using them in combination with an energy source the Swedes call käkraft, hundreds of times safer and cleaner than coal. Clearly written and beautifully illustrated, yet footnoted with extensive technical references, Goldstein and Qvist's book will provide a new touchstone in discussions of climate change. It could spark a shift in world energy policy that, in the words of Steven Pinker's foreword, literally saves the world.
Call Number: TD171.75 .G65 2019
ISBN: 1541724100
Publication Date: 2019-01-08
Energy Democracy by Denise Fairchild et al. A global energy war is underway. It is man versus nature, fossil fuel versus clean energy, the haves versus the have-nots, and, fundamentally, an extractive economy versus a regenerative economy. The near-unanimous consensus among climate scientists is that the massive burning of gas, oil, and coal is having a cataclysmic impact on our atmosphere and climate, and depleting earth's natural resources, including its land, food, fresh water and biodiversity.   These climate and environmental impacts are particularly magnified and debilitating for low-income communities and communities of color that live closest to toxic sites, are disproportionately impacted by high incidences of asthma, cancer and rates of morbidity and mortality, and lack the financial resources to build resilience to climate change.     Energy democracy tenders a response and joins the environmental and climate movements with broader movements for social and economic change. Energy democracy is a way to frame the international struggle of working people, low income communities, and communities of color to take control of energy resources from the energy establishment and use those resources to empower their communities--literally providing energy, economically, and politically. Energy democracy is more important than ever as climate and social justice advocates confront a shocking political reality in the U.S.   This volume brings together racial, cultural, and generational perspectives. This diversity is bound together by a common operating frame: that the global fight to save the planet--to conserve and restore our natural resources to be life-sustaining--must fully engage community residents and must change the larger economy to be sustainable, democratic, and just. The contributors offer their perspectives and approaches to climate and clean energy from rural Mississippi, to the South Bronx, to Californian immigrant and refugee communities, to urban and semi-rural communities in the Northeast. Taken together, the contributions in this book show what an alternative, democratized energy future can look like, and will inspire others to take up the struggle to build the energy democracy movement.  
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 1610918525
Publication Date: 2017-10-12
Environmental Economics and Sustainability by Brian Chi-ang Lin (Editor); Siqi Zheng (Editor) Environmental Economics and Sustainability presents a collection of peer-reviewed research articles contributed by international experts that reveal the current state of our knowledge in the field of environmental economics. Presents the latest research results on a plethora of issues relating to environmental economics and sustainability Features original contributions from top experts in the field from around the world Addresses several of the contemporary challenges of sustainability while infusing new energy into the field of environmental economics Covers myriad topics relating to environmental economics and sustainability including climate change, air pollution, CO2 emissions, recycling, and the international environmental agreement
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781119328087
Publication Date: 2017-02-16
Future Challenges in Evaluating and Managing Sustainable Development in the Built Environment by Peter S. Brandon (Editor); Patrizia Lombardi (Editor); Geoffrey Q. Shen (Editor) Future Challenges in Sustainable Development within the Built Environment stimulates and reinterprets the demands of Responsible and Sustainable Development in the Built Environment for future action and development. It examines the methods of evaluation, the use of technology, the creation of new models and the role of human factors for examining and developing the subject over the next twenty years.
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 1119190738
Publication Date: 2017-04-05
Green Energy by Sanjeevikumar Padmanaban (Editor); Suman Lata Tripathi (Editor) Like most industries around the world, the energy industry has also made, and continues to make, a long march toward "green" energy.  The science has come a long way since the 1970s, and renewable energy and other green technologies are becoming more and more common, replacing fossil fuels.  It is, however, still a struggle, both in terms of energy sources keeping up with demand, and the development of useful technologies in this area. To maintain the supply for electrical energy, researchers, engineers and other professionals in industry are continuously exploring new eco-friendly energy technologies and power electronics, such as solar, wind, tidal, wave, bioenergy, and fuel cells. These technologies have changed the concepts of thermal, hydro and nuclear energy resources by the adaption of power electronics advancement and revolutionary development in lower manufacturing cost for semiconductors with long time reliability. The latest developments in renewable resources have proved their potential to boost the economy of any country. Green energy technology has not only proved the concept of clean energy but also reduces the dependencies on fossil fuel for electricity generation through smart power electronics integration. Also, endless resources have more potential to cope with the requirements of smart building and smart city concepts.  A valuable reference for engineers, scientists, chemists, and students, this volume is applicable to many different fields, across many different industries, at all levels.  It is a must-have for any library.
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 1119760798
Publication Date: 2020-12-29
Greening Through IT by Bill Tomlinson How the tools of information technology can support environmental sustainability by tackling problems that span broad scales of time, space, and complexity. Environmental issues often span long periods of time, far-flung areas, and labyrinthine layers of complexity. In Greening through IT, Bill Tomlinson investigates how the tools and techniques of information technology (IT) can help us tackle environmental problems at such vast scales. Tomlinson describes theoretical, technological, and social aspects of a growing interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, "Green IT," offering both a human-centered framework for understanding Green IT systems and specific examples and case studies of Green IT in action. Tomlinson descrobes many efforts toward sustainability supported by IT--from fishers in India who maximized the sales potential of their catch by coordinating their activities with mobile phones to the installation of smart meters that optimize electricity use in California households--and offers three detailed studies of specific research projects that he and his colleagues have undertaken: EcoRaft, an interactive museum exhibit to help children learn principles of restoration ecology; Trackulous, a set of web-based tools with which people can chart their own environmental behavior; and GreenScanner, an online system that provides access to environmental-impact reports about consumer products. Taken together, these examples illustrate the significant environmental benefits that innovations in information technology can enable.
Call Number: TD145 .T48 2010
ISBN: 0262013932
Publication Date: 2010-03-19
Sustainability by Tian C. Zhang; Rao Y. Surampalli; Manish Kumar Goyal; Satinder K. Brar; R. D. Tyagi A comprehensive resource to sustainability and its application to the environmental, industrial, agricultural and food security sectors Sustainability fills a gap in the literature in order to provide an important guide to the fundamental knowledge and practical applications of sustainability in a wide variety of areas. The authors - noted experts who represent a number of sustainability fields - bring together in one comprehensive volume the broad range of topics including basic concepts, impact assessment, environmental and the socio-economic aspects of sustainability. In addition, the book covers applications of sustainability in environmental, industrial, agricultural and food security, as well as carbon cycle and infrastructural aspects. Sustainability addresses the challenges the global community is facing due to population growth, depletion of non-renewable resources of energy, environmental degradation, poverty, excessive generation of wastes and more. Throughout the book the authors discuss the economics, ecological, social, technological and systems perspectives of sustainability. This important resource: *    Explores the fundamentals as well as the key concepts of sustainability; *    Covers basic concepts, impact assessment, environmental and socio-economic aspects, applications of sustainability in environmental, industrial, agricultural and food security, carbon cycle and infrastructural aspects; *    Argues the essentiality of sustainability in ensuring the propitious future of earth systems; and   *    Authored by experts from a range of various fields related to sustainability. Written for researchers and scientists, students and academics, Sustainability: Fundamentals and Applications is a comprehensive book that covers the basic knowledge of the topic combined with practical applications.
Call Number: eBook
ISBN: 9781119434030
Publication Date: 2020-03-27

Keywords for Searching on Your Own

Try these keywords and phrases to find more resources!

Sustainable development
Clean Energy/ Green Energy
Green living
Recycling/ Zero waste
Environmental impacts of consumption
Renewable energy
Environmental economics
Self-reliant Living

Searching Journals

Journal Search can be used to find if the Library has access to the full-text articles published in a specific magazine or journal. Search by subject, title, or keywords. Use the "Search Inside" feature to keyword search within that magazine or journal for articles relating to a subject.

Journal Search This link opens in a new window

Databases

If you are ready to deep dive into recent research regarding sustainability topics, start with these databases.

Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window
Multi-disciplinary database providing information for nearly every area of academic study. Includes an enormous collection of the most valuable peer-reviewed full text journals, as well as additional journals, magazines, newspapers and books.
GreenFILE This link opens in a new window
GreenFILE offers well-researched information covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Its collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. The database provides indexing and abstracts for more than 1,000,000 records, as well as Open Access full text for more than 15,000 records.
Science Direct This link opens in a new window
Core scientific literature, including titles such as THE LANCET, Cell, and Tetrahedron. Contains more than 2,500 journals, and more than nine million full-text articles.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
Opposing Viewpoints is a rich resource for debaters and includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, news, images, video, audio, and more. A category on the National Debate Topic provides quick and easy access to content on frequently studied and discussed issues. Periodical content covers current events, news and commentary, economics, environmental issues, political science, and more.

Sustainability: Looking to Make Big Changes?

Out to Change the World?

Other Parkland Library Guides

Government Resources for Sustainability

Organizations for Sustainability

Careers in Sustainability

Books

Keywords for Searching on Your Own

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Sustainability: Looking to Make Big Changes?

Out to Change the World?

Other Parkland Library Guides

Government Resources for Sustainability

Organizations for Sustainability

Careers in Sustainability

Books

Keywords for Searching on Your Own

Searching Journals

Databases

Library Materials

Services

Programs & Collections

Faculty & Staff