From Guest Blogger Anica Oaks: Four Ways Innovative Community Designs Can Assist Sustainability Efforts

As designers, architects and engineers continue to learn of the many benefits to the environment related to sustainable communities, the desire for such sociable and workable communities continues to increase. In fact, in the sustainable communities that exist, most of the residents note the return of good neighbor relationships and improved community participation. These are four of the most basic ways that a wise community design will improve sustainability in that area.

By Creating City Centers

Sustainable communities are designed to take up less overall space per person and are designed with a centralized village, giving residents the ability to walk or bike to businesses to fulfill their everyday needs. Not only can this concept improve the feeling of community and neighborliness, but also it eliminates much of the need for cars and for the need to pollute the air with carbon dioxide that scientists say contributes to global warming and rising sea levels.

By Improving Water Management

Once again, much less water is needed in a well-designed community because of the lack of suburban sprawl and the need for smaller yards. Less water is needed to keep alive plants that are native to the environment and fewer pesticides and herbicides are typically needed, keeping dangerous chemicals out of the water supply.

By Creating Livable Community Designs

Truly livable communities must be designed with the help of architects, civil engineers, environmentalists and other professionals who are committed to sustainable living. Hiring a civil engineer who received training in environmental engineering (learn more here), for example, can be an excellent choice. A livable community should focus on designated Main Streets, dimmer street lights, shorter driveways, accessibility to mass transit, densely built homes and green spaces with conservation areas.

By Protecting the Natural Environment

Well-designed communities will respect the nature around them by leaving as many natural aspects of the outdoors as possible. Some communities have even reestablished streams and wetlands areas that had been removed for prior development. Interestingly, these ponds and wetlands can actually improve home values by providing homebuyers with appealing aesthetics.

When older communities see the major benefits that sustainable community designs have on the city itself, they are also inspired to rethink their layouts for homes, businesses and green spaces. Of course, community participation in sustainability efforts is critical for the practice to see positive, sustained results. Whereas major financial support for these efforts was once needed, today’s community investors are becoming more positive overall about the feasibility of their new projects.