Home
Fact-checked

At HomeQuestionsAnswered, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are the Advantages of a Green Community?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

A green community is a neighborhood or building in which environmentally-friendly tactics are used in every way feasible. Green communities may feature buildings made and insulated with recycled or biodegradable materials, community gardens and composting, and general attention to using earth-friendly products, appliances and features. Unlike the comparatively inexpensive but unsustainable practices of the 20th century, green communities offer not only a healthy living environment but can be of great benefit to residents, the surrounding areas and even the planet.

One of the advantages of a green community is tremendous potential for savings on energy spending. Green buildings a variety of tactics to provide superior insulation to residencies, making it less necessary to use a heater or air-conditioning system. Green apartments and homes typically use recycled material as insulation, install double-paned windows, and feature appliances certified to be energy efficient. While the initial cost of these materials may be higher than regular building costs, the benefits are tremendous and can continually save money on electricity and gas bills.

A building incorporating solar panels into its design would be ideal in a green community.
A building incorporating solar panels into its design would be ideal in a green community.

Some new green communities in sunny locales, such as the Gatsby Hollywood in Los Angeles, use solar paneling as a main source of energy. When power is not in use in a given, the panels store energy in a main grid, which can be used by other homes or in times of heavy usage. The low cost of solar energy is a great benefit in a green community, and can reduce not only energy bills, but the use of natural gas and power plants, thereby benefiting the environment.

Green communities often have community gardens.
Green communities often have community gardens.

Many green communities focus heavily on the need for community gardens and green spaces. Studies have shown that trees benefit the environment greatly, producing clean oxygen and reducing the effect of city smog and pollution. By growing an organic community garden, residents are provided with fresh, pesticide-free produce and flowers year round and will see a dramatic reduction in grocery bills.

In concert with community gardens, community compost heaps are another benefit of a green community. By tossing food and plant scraps into a communal heap, you create a fertilizer that will help you raise your next crop of produce, flowers, or trees. This feature cuts down on waste and uses biodegradable materials to cultivate crops rather than chemically-enhanced fertilizers.

Recycling programs are another feature of a dedicated green community. By setting up community or household bins for plastic, glass, paper and cardboard goods, you can help reduce the amount of waste in overflowing landfills and prevent the use of more natural resources by recycling old goods into new products. Some green communities also use recycled or recyclable goods for area maintenance and property upkeep.

Although some of the benefits of a green community will appear in your pocketbook, a number of highly critical advantages are more difficult to measure. By building and participating in a green community, residents can change the way humans interact with the earth. Instead of an approach which has lead to a dangerous destruction of the Earth’s natural resources, green living promotes a low-waste lifestyle that not only can stop human damage to the environment, but can actually help the planet’s ecology. Living in a green community may be a new fad, but with help and support it may grow to become the new, environmentally-conscious standard of living and building.

Contribute to a greener community by adopting eco-friendly practices at home. Using plant-based laundry sheets for your laundry is a small action that makes a big impact on your well-being and the environment. Choose the best laundry detergent sheets to be a part of the sustainable movement and promote a healthier future for all.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a HomeQuestionsAnswered writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a HomeQuestionsAnswered writer.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

bythewell

@Iluviaporos - I think it really is up to individual's and communities to harness green technologies though, rather than waiting for whole cities to get into the act.

Once it becomes the norm for the individual, it will start to catch on in larger areas.

lluviaporos

@pleonasm - This can even happen on a macro scale. I was reading an article the other day about cities where the citizens have made a concerted effort to cycle as much as possible and where a lot of roads have been closed to cars.

Apparently, apart from reducing pollution, this just makes everyone friendlier to each other and reduces crime. Being in a car kind of locks you away from everyone around you and gives you an excuse to ignore them. It's harder to ignore them when you're on a bike.

Green construction and urban planning projects can have unexpected benefits. I wish they were more the norm.

pleonasm

I think one of the benefits of a green living community is just that you get to know your neighbors better. It's really important to try and involve everyone as much as possible (without making them uncomfortable of course!) in both consultations and going through with construction and maintenance.

Not only does this allow you to get to know your neighbors in a way that a lot of communities lack these days, you will also build a sense of pride that can make the whole area seem safer and better maintained. People aren't going to graffiti your walls if you gave them a basket of vegetables last week. They will look out for your children because they know you're doing the same.

It's great for the environment but it's also good for society.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A building incorporating solar panels into its design would be ideal in a green community.
      By: arsdigital
      A building incorporating solar panels into its design would be ideal in a green community.
    • Green communities often have community gardens.
      By: DLeonis
      Green communities often have community gardens.