In today’s world, “green” is in—meaning that making ecologically sound choices is something at the top of all our minds. So when it comes to choosing a first home, many professionals are asking themselves, “which lifestyle is the most green?” Of course, if you have always dreamt of living in the country, the green revolution will probably have little effect on your aspiration. By the same token, if you have always dreamt of living in the heart of the city, you shouldn’t change your preferred lifestyle based on some builder’s notion of which lifestyle is more “green.” Never the less, it can be interesting to look at these different modes of living and really analyze the ecological sensitivity of that first home you buy.
When many think of “going green” or living in an ecologically sustainable manner, they think of that house in the country. After all, what could be more friendly to nature than surrounding oneself with nature, right? Wrong, many experts say. Living out in the country does indeed give you more access to the out of doors and the beauty of nature, but does it help the planet? Remember, the longer your commute to work, the more fossil fuels you will burn each day. If you live on a dirt road, you may need a large, four-wheel-drive vehicle, thus increasing your gasoline consumption. Wood burning stoves—though cozy and undeniably romantic—are common modes of heating in older country homes, but they pollute quite a bit. Also consider everyday concerns such as garbage disposal. Will you have access to a county dump? Will you have to haul your trash yourself? Because of their isolation, it is common for many in rural areas to burn their own trash, which is decidedly unhealthful for the environment. In addition to considering your own commute to work, also consider the drive-time necessary for the post office and other delivery vehicles to reach your home. These vehicles also burn fossil fuels as they roam around the countryside from one rural home to the next.
This is not an attempt to discourage any potential home-buyer from purchasing that dreamed-of home in the country, but simply a word to the wise. The rural lifestyle is distinct from the urban or suburban life simply because of its isolation and the fuel and vehicular demands upon it. It can be expensive to have a lot of land to keep up and care for as well.
Another option that many green-wise home buyers look at is that home in the city. Urban living, for many first-time home buyers, means a condominium. There are also wonderful brownstones and town homes available to city dwellers, but the condominium is the most affordably-priced city home for most first-time buyers. These dwellings do tend to be small. Storage space is limited and there is no personal outdoor space at all. Some condominiums offer shared recreation space—be it a setting in a park-like atmosphere or a roof garden. The lifestyle is communal in some respects, and that entails following strict rules as to outdoor décor that is permitted, noise levels, and behavior that may disturb others. Some young people balk at the rules and the fees associated with condominium dwelling . . . that is, until they move in! Condominiums often provide amenities such as swimming pools, hot tubs, exercise rooms, and community centers for the residents, and these additions can make all the difference. Condominium dwellers do save on transportation costs to and from their workplaces, and do have numerous entertainments right at their fingertips. They don’t have the costly and time-consuming upkeep on their properties that rural-dwellers incur.
There are definitely some advantages to city living when home buyers are looking to “go green,” but ultimately the choice is a personal one. You must ask yourself: how much work and expense do I want to put into my home, and how much time and expense do I want to spend on transportation?
