WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE LIVING LAND?
The big buzzword today is “green”. Almost anyone having an energy star rated dishwasher wants to call their home green. But what is the real meaning of “green”?
There are a growing number of individuals committed to a new way of planet friendly living by leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible. To truly accomplish this means generating as much of our power as possible from renewable resources, recycling whenever possible, and even growing our own food. The good news is it is all possible now!
So, what is “sustainable living ready land”? The simplest answer would be to say sustainable living land is land conducive to sustainable living principals. So, what makes a tract of land sustainable? For starters, sustainable land is best when offering abundant sunshine and other free renewable energy resources.
At about 300 days of sunshine a year, our mesa land comes in well ahead of the curve! We also enjoy excellent wind resources as well! So, what other characteristics should you be looking for?
There are many aspects possible, but, it is helpful to have an area where others are building sustainable homes as well. It is also important to consider how welcome a sustainable living structure will be. Areas with strict home owner associations (unless it is already a sustainable living community) may object to solar panels or wind generators as well as indoor organic gardens!
County regulations also need to be favorable. You might also want a large enough tract of land for proper passive solar placement. Earth friendly communities are popping up everywhere. The key is to strike a proper balance between conservation and modern necessity.
So, how does our mesa land fulfill those requirements? For starters, there are about a half dozen off-grid homes already existing on the mesa. The local governments have been cooperative with and receptive to new concepts. There are public transportation resources nearby with the Rail Runner commuter train going as far as Santa Fe. Large lot sizes make for flexibility in placement and design. Unlike well established urban areas; we are able to start from scratch unfettered by home owner associations wishing to continue in the old tradition!
The mesa offer a fresh start with clean air, beautiful views, a certain level of regulatory freedom (which you should check out before building), and an abundance of natural resources. Many believe the time for new concepts is upon us and the only choices might be go green or lose our planet. The choice is yours!
|
