Plenty has been said about what individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint and slow down the warming of the planet. However, while individual efforts certainly will help the fight against climate change, more people need to switch to a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
When entire communities decide to “go green,” everyone benefits. Their collective carbon footprint declines significantly which is good for the planet. Moreover, it benefits them, too. They create a community that, not only is kinder to the environment but creates a positive impact on every member.
A green community is a place where everyone can live a better quality of life. In a green community, people make an effort to live more sustainably. This can include things like reducing energy consumption, recycling and composting, using public transportation or walking instead of driving, and installing solar panels or wind turbines.
Green communities also tend to have a smaller environmental impact. They often use less energy and produce less waste. And, because they’re often close to nature, they can enjoy cleaner air and water.
Everyone in a green community benefits from its sustainable practices. Here’s how.
Reduced Energy Consumption
One of the biggest benefits is a reduction in energy consumption. Even if you’re not aware of it, your home’s electricity consumption contributes to climate change. The less energy they use, the more green a community becomes. If everyone in that community decides to embrace energy-efficient technologies and reduce their consumption, then the effect is simply outstanding.
With every member committed to leaving the smallest possible carbon footprint on Earth, it’s natural for these communities to adopt passive heating systems. These save a ton of money during winter months without reducing comfort levels inside homes or businesses located within this eco-friendly community. With most passive heating systems, there are no fans or motors involved which means very low maintenance costs, too. Environmental pollution plummets.
Cleaner Air and Water
When everyone collectively decides to embrace reduced energy consumption and the use of green technologies, they also benefit from cleaner air and water within their community. The average home in a green community will likely be powered by eco-friendly electricity generated from renewable resources like solar panels. Businesses, too, will use commercial solar panels to power retail stores, warehouses, and manufacturing plants. If each member is expected to reduce their overall carbon footprint, it’s only natural to see the effects of these efforts within a green community.
For example, solar panels used for electricity generation either cut out energy loss during transmission or improve the grid’s overall efficiency. Either way, clean energy is generated and less coal (often transported from distant mines) is burned to produce electricity. That means cleaner air and water for everyone in the community.
People also choose alternative modes of transportation that do not contribute to climate change. They bicycle to work, walk to the store, or use mass transit to get to their destination — all of which are far kinder to the planet than driving their own private vehicles.
Reduced Health Costs
One of the unexpected benefits is the saving on health expenses. A green community is one that takes care to minimize environmental pollution and ensures sustainable practices for future generations, especially unborn children. The result is healthier people which automatically reduces overall medical costs for everyone in that community. Expect lower insurance premiums because an eco-friendly community has far fewer health issues.
A green community is one that takes good care of the environment, so everyone in the area benefits.
Better Quality of Life
People who live in green communities overall gain a better quality of life. With all the aforementioned benefits, there’s no doubt about it. Economically and environmentally, they’re healthier and more self-sufficient than neighboring communities. The value of homes in a green community generally increases over time because the environment remains beautiful and clean, sustainable practices continue to benefit everyone, and crime rates remain low.
Green communities illustrate that sustainability has benefits for everyone.
Living in an eco-friendly community means enjoying cleaner air and water. That, in turn, means lower medical bills for everyone because there’s less environmental pollution to pollute both indoors and out. Plus, most green communities promote alternative modes of transportation which helps reduce congestion on increasingly busy roads.
Green communities are good for the environment because every action taken by an individual contributes to a larger whole. Even though it might seem like small steps would never make a difference, when everyone joins in on this environmental journey, better things happen for everybody.