You are committed to living an eco-friendly lifestyle, but there is a major problem: your current home. Maybe it is too old and energy-inefficient, and it would simply cost too much to update to your sustainability standards; maybe it is located in a part of the world that doesn’t prioritize environmental conservation or green energy usage. In any case, you know it’s time for a move — but how do you plan a move when sustainability is the goal?
Moving for sustainability has three components: relocating to a city that prioritizes eco-friendliness, finding a neighborhood that will support your green goals, and investing in a house that can become a sustainable paradise.
Eco-Friendly City
When it comes to sustainability, not all cities are created equal. Some cities support sustainable lifestyles through public projects, and other cities use public policy to stand in the way of eco-friendly action. If you have the luxury of choosing a place to live, you should look for the following attributes of a city that prioritizes eco-friendly living:
- Multiple options for non-car transportation, like well-developed public transit, bike paths, mixed-use neighborhoods for walkability, and more;
- Public access to diverse green spaces, like parks and nature preserves;
- Dedication to water conservation and waste management, like high-tech water monitoring systems or programs for recycling, composting, and repurposing waste;
- Investment in green architecture, such as implementing requirements for LEED-certification of new construction.
Also, consider how climate affects your efforts to live eco-friendly. It is much easier to maintain low energy consumption and responsible water usage when you live in an area that remains temperate year-round and enjoys reliable rainfall.
Some of the most sustainable cities are outside the U.S. and include places like Gothenburg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark — but it might be a pain to relocate far away from friends, family, and familiar culture. Instead, you might want to pack for a smaller move, gravitating toward American centers for sustainability like Portland, Oregon, or Washington, D.C.
Even small moves require smart packing, both to protect your possessions and the environment. Try to reuse packaging, especially if you have the original, and opt for re-useable materials when you can (for instance, wrapping any artwork in a blanket). Steps like this can help ensure your move itself is as environmentally friendly as possible, no matter where you’re going.
Green Neighborhood
To combat climate change, we need to work together; your actions alone will not have much impact, but a community’s combined efforts can bring about change. That’s why it is crucial that you surround yourself with like-minded neighbors who are similarly committed to maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle.
An eco-friendly neighborhood will have many attributes similar to those of eco-friendly cities but on a smaller scale. For example, you should see plenty of people walking or biking; landscaping might include gardens or native flora, and many homes in the neighborhood might be equipped with solar panels, rain barrels, or EV charging stations.
Before signing a lease or making an offer on a home, you should talk to an existing member of the community about the general attitude toward sustainability. You might find that the HOA is resistant to sustainable home upgrades or changes to landscaping, which should be a red flag that the neighborhood isn’t right for you.
Sustainable House
Once you have narrowed your home search to a specific area, you have the exciting opportunity to invest in your dream green home. While there are countless upgrades that can make your home more sustainable, many of these only work if your home already has a few features that prepare it to be as green as it can be. When choosing a home, you might consider details like when it was built (newer homes tend to be more sustainable), its size (smaller homes are easier to keep green), and its geometry (the long axis of the house should be east-west).
Once you have a house with good, green bones, you can start making stylish and sustainable home improvements. Some relatively easy eco-friendly updates that also tend to make your home more comfortable and attractive include energy-efficient appliances, double-pane windows, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and some smart home technologies, like smart thermostats.
If your goal is to live a green lifestyle in a green home, surrounded by green neighbors in a green city, you’re in luck. The world is full of communities looking to help save the environment. With a little research and planning, moving to increase your sustainability is both noble and possible in today’s world.
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