A Sustainable Home Begins with a Sustainable Location
There are many factors that go into making a home sustainable. The materials used to construct the home, as well as its ongoing life and maintenance should be as stress-free as possible to the habitat around it. A great way to make your home more eco-friendly (even before the building has begun) is to choose a location that will foster increased sustainability.Availability of green building materials, water conservation capabilities, and potential for solar-powered energy are just three examples of factors that are all influenced by your home’s location. So how do you find a smart location?
Consider the Environment
How will building and living in your chosen location affect the local ecosystem? Will your home disrupt a natural habitat for the surrounding wildlife? Will it increase the rate of soil erosion or water pollution? The point of living in a sustainable home is to minimize your impact on the world around you, so keep all of these things in mind when choosing your location. Research the area and determine how you will impact it.
Recycle the Land
A great place to build your home is on a lot that was formerly zoned as industrial, or was previously inhabited but is now empty. Most of the time, these types of lots will already have the necessary utilities and infrastructure in place. Re-using a lot instead of developing a new one is a great way to recycle the earth while minimizing your personal impact!
Reduce Your Driving
When possible, try to choose a location that is close to where you work and shop, or close to public transportation routes. This is not only good for the environment, but good for your wallet too, as you can travel much more cheaply than if you consistently drive a car (considering the gas, insurance, and maintenance that comes with car ownership).
Join a Community
Many larger apartment complexes have amenities included in the building, which would reduce your need to drive as much. Not to mention that living in more densely populated areas has shown to increase physical health, as studies have linked obesity to suburban sprawl. The more densely populated the area, the more public transportation that will be offered. If you decide to live in a big city, you may be able to get to every place you need to without using your car at all.
Think LEED
LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a sustainable building certification program that rates green building strategies and practices. Buildings with a LEED certification satisfy the requirements and accumulate points to determine their specific level of qualification. When considering a home, first take a look at its LEED certification level and choose a home with a better designation.
Be Realistic
Above all else, consider your lifestyle and what you are or are not willing to change. If you want to rely on biking or public transportation, then living in the middle of nowhere, where it rains or snows a majority of the time, may not be the best option for you. Have realistic expectations about what your location means for your lifestyle and work to seek a happy balance between the two.This list is certainly not exhaustive, but hopefully it has given you a few things to consider when looking for a sustainable location for your home. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your options in greater detail, please contact us!