Easy Green: Discover the Appeal of 'Ecovillages'
Communities devoted to sustainable living are catching on across the U.S., with shared resources and a neighborly approach
"Ecovillages" — communities dedicated to green living — are springing up in rural, urban and suburban areas around the world. While these communities are extremely varied, they all aim to make sustainable practices an integrated part of daily life for residents.
Whether it is a new-urban development within a large city or a remote rural neighborhood complete with vegetable gardens and walking trails, these communities are often designed to reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of the community and encourage green practices.
But beyond that, what they seem to be offering is a chance to connect with like-minded people and really get to know the neighbors. Read on to learn more about what attracts people to green communities and how to connect with an ecovillage in your own area.
Whether it is a new-urban development within a large city or a remote rural neighborhood complete with vegetable gardens and walking trails, these communities are often designed to reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of the community and encourage green practices.
But beyond that, what they seem to be offering is a chance to connect with like-minded people and really get to know the neighbors. Read on to learn more about what attracts people to green communities and how to connect with an ecovillage in your own area.
Green appeal: Shared areas equal more fun, less waste. Community features such as a common playground or swimming pool reduce the energy and resources it would take to build and maintain these amenities in individual homes, while also providing an opportunity to get together with neighbors.
Community Spotlight: South Main, Buena Vista, Colorado
This new-urban high-density community was designed around access to a prime kayaking spot, and it has attracted residents who appreciate a green, outdoorsy lifestyle.
Green appeal: Walkability. Rather than needing to hop in the car for every little outing, part of what is so attractive about living in a well-designed ecovillage is the walkability factor. By placing the community within easy walking distance of daily needs like markets, shops and services — or by providing some of those things within the mini neighborhood, community members can skip the car (at least most of the time).
This new-urban high-density community was designed around access to a prime kayaking spot, and it has attracted residents who appreciate a green, outdoorsy lifestyle.
Green appeal: Walkability. Rather than needing to hop in the car for every little outing, part of what is so attractive about living in a well-designed ecovillage is the walkability factor. By placing the community within easy walking distance of daily needs like markets, shops and services — or by providing some of those things within the mini neighborhood, community members can skip the car (at least most of the time).
Green appeal: Mixed-use space. The South Main community in Colorado has integrated plenty of live-work space, with residents living above their own shop or working from a home-based office. Cutting out the commute saves an incredible amount of pollution; plus residents can benefit from the goods and services provided by others in the community, further increasing the "walkability factor."
Read more about this community
Read more about this community
Community Spotlight: Sandywoods Farm, Tiverton, Rhode Island
The Sandywoods community offers both single-family homes and affordable rental apartments, widening the scope of who has access to this lovely ecofriendly village.
The Sandywoods community offers both single-family homes and affordable rental apartments, widening the scope of who has access to this lovely ecofriendly village.
Green appeal: Open space. Depending on the size of the area, there may be a shared garden, walking path, park or even preserved wild space. Sandywoods Farm has housing areas at a higher density, giving priority to preserving open space and natural areas.
Green appeal: Locavore lifestyle. Whether sharing a rooftop garden in the city or a large vegetable farm complete with chickens and beehives, many ecovillages include support for growing and eating locally. The Sandywoods Farm garden includes fruit trees, shared veggie gardens and an area just for kids.
Green appeal: Sense of community. More than being simply a collection of houses, ecovillages aim to foster a sense of kinship and community among residents. At Sandywoods Farm, many of the community gatherings — from art events to live music and even a produce market — take place in this graceful main house.
Read more about Sandywoods Farm
Read more about Sandywoods Farm
Community Spotlight: TCI Lane Ranch, Carbondale, Colorado
This Colorado community aims to produce net zero energy, with a community solar farm, access to mass transit, bike paths and a community garden.
This Colorado community aims to produce net zero energy, with a community solar farm, access to mass transit, bike paths and a community garden.
Community Spotlight: San Juan Passage, Anacortes, Washington
A sustainable, walkable coastal community in Washington state, the San Juan Passage reserved the best waterfront sites for community parks to be enjoyed by all, and landscaping efforts focus on maintaining native plant and wildlife habitats.
Want to find an ecofriendly community in your area? Check these resources for community listings where you live:
A sustainable, walkable coastal community in Washington state, the San Juan Passage reserved the best waterfront sites for community parks to be enjoyed by all, and landscaping efforts focus on maintaining native plant and wildlife habitats.
Want to find an ecofriendly community in your area? Check these resources for community listings where you live:
Still under development at this writing, the Redberry modular solar homes (shown here) would make a good choice for green housing in an ecovillage. By being partially constructed at a centralized offsite location, modular homes have the potential to greatly reduce waste during the building process.