About the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

ISI advances sustainable infrastructure using the Envision sustainability framework, through education, training and third-party project verification.

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure is an education and research nonprofit (a 501c3) based in Washington DC. It was established in 2010 by the American Public Works Association (APWA), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Responding to the need for a comprehensive sustainability framework and rating system suitable for use in civil infrastructure development, ISI collaborated with the then Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design to develop Envision®.

OUR MISSION

– Help communities around the world build sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure.
– Train and credential Envision sustainability professionals and verify projects using Envision.
– Protect the environment, enhance human health and well-being, and bolster economic prosperity.

OUR VISION

ISI imagines a world where every civil infrastructure project can be made sustainable, resilient, and equitable, and to fulfill that vision, we are dedicated to providing people and projects with the tools, resources, and roadmaps needed to succeed. For the ISI community, better infrastructure equals a better world, and working in partnership with ENV SPs and member organizations we are helping communities to thrive and prosper while protecting and restoring the natural world.

Access the ISI brochure to learn more.

CORE PROGRAMS

  • We manage the Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) credential and all continuing education curricula to designate professionals who have a deep understanding of sustainability and resiliency. ENV SPs are considered subject matter experts in sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure.
  • We oversee the Envision Rating system that evaluates all types of public and private infrastructure projects. Once verified, we apply an overall score to project submissions, recognizing them as Envision Verified, Envision Silver, Envision Gold, or Envision Platinum.
  • We oversee a membership program for organizations, public service agencies, academics, and professionals. Our members are granted access to proprietary resources, receive discounts on credentialing and continued professional development, and are listed in our directories as Envision Qualified Companies or Professionals. Public sector agencies are listed in our directories as Envision Supported Agencies.
  • We also work with our partners and members to advocate for Envision sustainability. These organizations and professionals come from across the A/E/C industry and may be found in civil infrastructure sectors of all types.

ISI has witnessed exponential growth in recent years and has established a network of more than ten thousand individual practitioners, government agencies, companies, and other organizations that are recognized members and ENV SPs.

Though headquartered in Washington DC with strong ties in the U.S. and Canada, ISI’s community is growing through project verification and credentialing in many countries and regions, including Italy, Spain, Mexico and Latin America, and China.

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INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Visit this page for more information about our international partners.