An Index of Human Well-Being for the U.S.: A TRIO Approach

Sustainability

J. Kevin Summers¹  Lisa M. Smith¹  Linda C. Harwell¹  Jason L. Case²  Christina M. Wade²  Kendra R. Straub² 

[1] U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA; E-Mails:;Student Services Contractor for U.S. EPA, University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: well-being;    index;    TRIO;    sustainability;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su6063915

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Research and Development program, Sustainable and Healthy Communities, coined the term TRIO (Total Resources Impact Outcome) to represent approaches that fully incorporate all three pillars of community sustainability—environmental, economic and social. This holistic approach to sustainability is embodied in the Human Well-Being Index (HWBI) comprised of sub-indices representing environmental well-being, economic well-being and societal well-being (which includes basic human needs and subjective well-being). The development of the HWBI is described in this manuscript along with its application at national, state and county spatial scales. In addition, application at even smaller spatial scales (communities, neighborhoods, demographic and economic sub-groups, and even individuals) is discussed. The potential utility of HWBI for comparing the intended and unintended consequences of alternative decisions is described.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.