Table5: Sustainable vs. Nonsustainable Design Maintenance
| Sustainable Design | Nonsustainable Design |
| Durable Material from natural, renewable, or recyclable sources (stone, fly-ash concrete, recycled aluminum | High-energy/high resource impact material selection with short life expectancy (synthetic carpeting, hydrocarbon-based plastics) |
| Lower energy consumption and resource demands (use of recycled wastewater, low-volume plumbing fixtures, and energy-efficient equipment) | High utility cost (unrestricted water use, unrestricted water use, discharge of waste without reuse/recycling |
| Operational mandate and direction (experienced management with appropriate resource and climate background, commitment to sustainable design) | Lack of operational manuals and direction ( no waste management manual or long-term maintenace plan) |
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Helps promote:
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Leads to:
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