I recently attended the Sustainability Delivery Summit in Chicago, and one theme came up again and again: language. As policies shift and public discourse evolves, we are compelled to revise the words we use to describe sustainability. Attendees asked interesting questions like: What terminology is appropriate now? What language resonates—or alienates—in today’s landscape? How should we change our vocabulary depending on the audience?
But what struck me most wasn’t just the need to refine how we communicate with the public. It was the realization that even within the sustainability community, we need ongoing education and alignment. There’s a surprising amount of variation in how we talk about—and understand—core sustainability concepts.
For full transparency, I’ve been a long-time advocate for theEnvision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework. Envision is a holistic sustainability framework and rating system that guides and assesses the sustainability and resilience of all types of infrastructure.*
Even when I worked for a consulting firm and promoted multiple sustainability rating systems, Envision stood out due to its holistic nature, full-lifecycle view, and ability to support higher performance through better choices during the infrastructure development process. And after the conversations in Chicago, I’m more convinced than ever that Envision has a role to play not just in guiding projects, but in educating practitioners and strengthening internal conversations.
In this moment of uncertainty, maybe we’re being given a chance to pause and ask some foundational questions—not just about language, but about purpose. We could take this time to step back, educate ourselves, and recommit to what brought many of us into this space in the first place. Perhaps this period provides an opportunity for everyone to become smarter about sustainability from a more holistic perspective, including:
- Dialogs crossing sectors and project types – buildings, infrastructure, nature-based solutions, multi-benefit projects, etc.
- Successes stories and lessons learned
- Interdisciplinary discussions – planners, architects, engineers, contractors, scientists, owners, developers, etc.
- Conversations with sustainability professionals outside the AEC industry
Summit discussions included mentions of the triple bottom line, with comments on both ends of the spectrum – from going back to ‘old’ sustainability terminology (aka ‘triple bottom line’) to eliminating existing terminology like ‘equity’ and ‘carbon.’ Call it what you will, the core of sustainability—balancing social, environmental, and economic considerations—still matters. The terminology may evolve, but we don’t want to stray from the values on which our sustainable practices are based.
When I was an Envision practitioner, my favorite part of the assessment process was the “what if” moment—when project team members began thinking beyond compliance or business as usual and started imagining something better. That spirit of curiosity and possibility is exactly what we need right now.
So, here’s my “what if”:
What if we use this moment of transition to get smarter—individually and collectively? What if we take time to learn, to teach, and to grow together—so that when the dust settles, we’re stronger and more aligned than before?
Envision and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) encourage this collaborative approach. In fact, credit LD 1.2 Foster Collaboration and Teamwork states:
“Working separately, performance is suboptimal, confined to individual project components. Working together as an integrated team, performance can be optimized across the entire project.”
This sentiment can be extrapolated to the AEC industry. In the built environment, no individual component stands alone. Buildings existing among transportation networks, public spaces, and water and power systems (among others), all of which exist within unique natural environments. To optimize sustainability across the industry, we need to tap into each other’s strengths, share knowledge openly, and collaborate across disciplines.
Let’s continue building this community—thoughtfully, intentionally, and together.
ISI’s free, virtual conference is this October—a great space to learn, connect, and exchange ideas. Registration is now open, and abstracts will be accepted through June 30.
*Envision is a comprehensive tool created to assist agencies, municipalities, consultants, contractors, and operators, in planning, designing, and delivering more sustainable infrastructure projects. The framework is a decision-making tool that allows project teams to evaluate projects across a broad range of sustainability indicators, or “credits,” that address environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability to encourage systemic change.
Posted 6/27/25
About the Author
As ISI’s Director of Engagement, Jennifer Ninete, ENV SP, STP, EcoDistricts AP, leads the organization’s Engagement Program, overseeing communications, marketing, and business development initiatives. An Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) and ISI-approved Envision Trainer, Jennifer has worked in the AEC industry more than 25 years. Before joining ISI, she was a senior sustainability consultant and Professional Associate at HDR, where she was the firm’s primary knowledge manager for the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework. Her responsibilities included ENV SP training, leading a team conducting project verifications, and managing a range of Envision projects. During that time, she contributed to more than 50 projects using the Envision framework, including 25 verified projects such as Historic Fourth Ward Park in Atlanta, Georgia; the Omaha RiverFront Revitalization in Omaha, Nebraska; and Ship Canal Water Quality Project in Seattle, Washington. Earlier in her career, she held marketing, business development, and communications roles at both architecture and construction firms, supporting a broad spectrum of market sectors.
