Sustainability has become something of a buzzword in recent years. Indeed, sometimes it can seem as if that particular word is tossed around rather loosely and carelessly, tacked on to proposals and reports by consultants and policymakers as an easy way to lend legitimacy to and garner assent for whatever project they happen to be working on.
However, when it comes to the planning and building of infrastructure projects, such as power grids or transportation networks, sustainability is more than just empty industry jargon; it is a very real and important concept, and one that, if implemented properly, can yield tangible and beneficial results for everyone.
Defined as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, sustainability basically means balancing environmental, social, and economic factors to create long-lasting and efficient systems. When this concept is applied to infrastructure, it can have wondrous effects, like reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing resource depletion, and ultimately saving taxpayer money—either directly, if applied to government-run initiatives, or indirectly, if private organizations use its principles to develop and maintain durable, clean, and effective projects in the public sphere.
Brad Fauteux is a career executive who has held high-ranking roles at organizations such as EQUANS Services, ENGIE, and Ontario Parks under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry with the Provincial Government of Ontario. As such, he has plenty of experience working in both the private and public sectors. Fauteux currently occupies the post of Vice President of Colliers Project Leaders, which is a division of Colliers Canada, a firm that provides a variety of strategic and practical services to manage infrastructure projects. That being the case, he is perfectly positioned to provide authoritative commentary on the best practices for fostering long-term sustainability in infrastructure. “Sustainability in infrastructure is about making responsible decisions today that will stand up to the needs of the future,” he remarks. “If we make plans without adhering to that guiding principle, we set ourselves up for costly fixes down the road.”
One fundamental aspect of sustainable infrastructure is designing with resilience in mind. This means considering immediate operational needs as well as long-term adaptability. Brad Fauteux has seen firsthand how early-stage planning emphasizing such considerations leads to better outcomes. “When I was working as Managing Director of Ontario Parks on the Mid Canada Line Project, factoring in long-term resilience for the project was a major priority. It required careful planning to balance immediate environmental concerns with longevity and durability,” he says, referencing an $85 million environmental remediation project in Northern Ontario. “As with any similar project, a short-term approach may have been cost-effective at first, but over time, the expenses of retrofitting and repairing unsustainable infrastructure would have far outweighed the investment in getting it right from the start.”
Another key component of sustainability is understanding how infrastructure interacts with its surroundings—not just in the present but over decades. Also, during his tenure at Ontario Parks, Fauteux played a key role in shaping the Algonquin Park Management Plan Amendment, a project that required thoughtfully balancing ecological integrity, public access, and economic interests. “As that project developed, it became very clear that land use patterns and conservation strategies were big factors in making sure that the park remained both accessible and ecologically sound,” he says. “When you’re dealing with a natural asset of that scale, every decision you make has consequences that ripple outward for generations.”
This kind of forward-thinking approach is critical when planning out and building infrastructure. But as Fauteux points out, sustainability isn’t just about environmental stewardship—it’s also about making sure projects serve their purpose well for as long a time as possible. That means integrating renewable energy sources where feasible, using materials that can withstand changing climate conditions, and considering the broader social impact of a given development. “Anything being built needs to consider more than just its immediate functionality,” he explains. “It’s about ensuring that infrastructure is both fit for purpose and remains functional and cost-effective for decades down the line.”
Another crucial factor in creating sustainable infrastructure is accountability. According to Fauteux, sustainability initiatives only succeed when decision-makers take responsibility for their choices and commit to long-term oversight. “A project doesn’t simply end when the grand opening ribbon is cut,” he explains. “Monitoring its performance, adjusting things as conditions change, and making updates—both planned ones and unplanned ones—are all part of responsible infrastructure management. Without follow-through, even the best-laid plans can fail.”
In the end, sustainable infrastructure isn’t about using buzzwords to fast-track the approval of a big new project or ticking a box to please a government watchdog office—it’s about creating systems that endure. As Brad Fauteux puts it, “The best practices for sustainability are the ones that prioritize adaptability, efficiency, and responsibility. If we build with those three core principles firmly in mind, we will create pieces of infrastructure that serve people well in the present day and for decades to come. The ultimate goal is twofold: utility now, all the while working to lessen the burden imposed on future generations.”
