Best Eco-Friendly Communities of 2017

Costa Rica—Pacific Lots and Homes is the largest, oldest international residential developer of custom homes in Costa Rica. Overlooking the country’s stunning southern Pacific coastal region, they offer a full rental management program and have no time limits to build by. A noted sustainable development now in their 28th year, they use renewable resources, forestry-managed tropical hardwoods and non-invasive development methods. All of their developments are in prior pastureland, and they never cut primary or secondary growth forest. Over 50% of the region where they are located features National Park land, rainforest, waterfalls and beaches.

Bahamas — Located on the stunning island of Great Abaco in the Bahamas, Schooner Bay is surrounded by tranquil beaches, lush forests, breath-taking vistas, and is the place dreams are made of. Water sports, delicious ocean-side restaurants and beach cabanas allow for the ultimate enjoyment of this dramatic shoreline. Schooner Bay is a unique Caribbean community that was designed from the beginning to the highest contemporary standards of sustainability. The residential options at Schooner Bay include oceanfront homes, harbourside cottages and maintenance-free condominiums in a village-style setting that has been created to protect the natural environment and enhance the quality of life.

Gerton, NC —
Hickory Nut Forest is a 270-acre sustainable community in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina near Asheville. From its inception, Hickory Nut Forest established renewable energy sources from solar and water, private homes that blend in with the natural environment and on-site organic orchards and gardens. The Laughing Waters Reteat Center is a hub of community activity, while the kayaking on Hickory Nut Creek is soulfully refreshing and the highland hiking trails in the ever-wild lands surrounding Hickory Nut Grove are simply awesome.

Rio Verde, AZ — Arizona’s Rio Verde is an Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community that adjoins the beautiful Tonto National Forest. Carefully cultivated native landscaping throughout the development is irrigated with captured wastewater and power is generated by solar panels on the clubhouse and many private homes. The Rio Verde lifestyle emphasizes healthy outdoor activities like tennis, pickleball and bocce ball, play on the Rio Verde Country Club’s two championship courses, and hiking and cycling that begins at the community trailhead into the adjacent McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The Rio Verde Saddle Club offers members an authentic Western equestrian experience.

Babcock Ranch, FL — Located in Southwest Florida just north of Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch offers expansive public green spaces and trails, utility-scale solar generation and a gigabyte of fiber-optic connectivity standard to every home and free wi-fi everywhere you may roam. The 75MW Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center produces more clean, renewable energy than the new town will ever consume. All irrigation throughout the community uses reclaimed water. With 50% of the community footprint set aside for public green space, expansive sidewalks and more than 50 miles of trails for hiking and biking, Babcock Ranch delivers an expansive lifestyle with a minimal footprint.

Birmingham, AL — Mt Laurel is a master planned community with tree-lined streets, broad sidewalks, and plentiful green spaces. Mt Laurel is a sustainable neighborhood that offers residents a relaxed pace of life. It’s a place with a unique identity, formed by three core values: community, respect for nature, and a commitment to the future. Mt Laurel was thoughtfully planned to embrace its natural landscape. Mt Laurel’s amenities include an 11-acre swimming and fishing lake, hiking trails, parks, a dog park, tennis courts, basketball courts, a pool, and a community garden. With convenient access to the Mt Laurel Farm and a summer farmer’s market, residents can enjoy local, seasonal produce to accompany their active lifestyle.

Chattahoochee Hills, GA — Located in the north Georgia highlands above Atlanta, Serenbe was honored for its eco-friendly design with the Urban land Institute Inaugural Sustainability Award. Quality of life for Senebe’s residents is the focus here, with an organic community farm, three healthy-eating restaurants, a weekly farmer’s and artisan market under the shaded canopy of the Selborne Green and equestrian facilities connected to surrounding mountain trails. Senebe Homes are designed to the highest energy-saving standards and the community walking trails lead to an emerging town center where residents can shop or enjoy cultural events.