What does sustainability really mean? It’s a question we’ve fielded thousands of times over the last 50 years. And our answer has remained remarkably consistent: It’s about impact—doing more good, and less harm.
Of course, that raises more questions: Who decides what’s good? How do I know I’m not being greenwashed?
The truth is, it is hard to tell. That’s why we’ve spent decades doing the homework—so you don’t have to. One of the benefits of working with South Mountain is feeling confident that the choices you make today will hold up for decades to come.
Our Impact Framework (inspired by the Living Building Challenge) has seven lenses: Place, Water, Energy, Materials, Wellbeing, Equity, and Experience. Lens by lens, we guide clients through the sustainability thicket, cutting through the noise, explaining the science, identifying what really works, and integrating it all into your vision and your budget—seamlessly, thoughtfully, and honestly.
Because real sustainability isn’t a checklist. It’s a philosophy.
Over the next few months, we’ll provide examples of each lens in action, starting here with The Water Lens.
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