Creating Sustainable Green Communities

What are Green Communities?
Communities that place environmental well-being as a priority and whose residents look to protect their environment from overuse and pollution whilst reducing their individual and communal carbon footprint can be considered green communities. Such sustainable communities aim to lower the impact on the environment without lowering the quality of life. They believe in consuming less and being less wasteful and keeping open space to a maximum.

Green communities focus on creating liveable and viable communities, optimal green spaces and sustainable infrastructure.

Green communities are designed, planned and established to restore balance to human activity and nature’s ecosystems. Each green community is unique, some have complex, ambitious goals which look at combining all elements of the ecosystem with human activity whilst others focus on finding a balance with only one or two of the elements.

Elements that can be planned and managed to be sustainable and work in tandem with nature include energy, water, transport, green buildings and open spaces.

Energy
Green communities consider how they can principally use renewable energy sources to create and meet their energy needs rather than other that can cause irreversible damage to the environment. Solar, wind and hydroelectric power are principle renewable energy sources that are employed where possible in preference of traditional fossil fuel based energy.

Water
For water sustainably, a green community looks at how to meet the needs of society whilst minimising pollution, waste management and maximising recycling so water is fully utilised and responsibly managed. On a household level, green communities consider ways in which they can store and use rainwater, employ greywater recycling from sinks, baths, and washing machines to irrigate land and gardens.

Transport
Green communities look at incorporating opportunities for walking and bicycling to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and traffic and create natural green corridors for environmentally friendly transport opportunities and access. They encourage the use of natural gas powered, electric, or hybrid vehicles by creating infrastructure to support such vehicles.

Another way to achieve harmony, reduce waste and consumption, green communities can have services linked and closer together, smaller buildings and made with eco-friendly type materials. Footpaths and cycleways form an integral part of the community. Sustainable communities also may encourage working from home with good technological facilities and infrastructure to make a daily commute non-essential for all industries. For some green communities they can introducing zoning the landscape to have shorter distances and a greater overlap between residential and commercial environments allowing more people to commute to work through walking, cycling or other ecofriendly transport methods. This can be further enhanced by introducing entertainment closeby such as cafes, restaurants, cinemas and sports facilities that all can be accessed easily; improving quality of life whilst maintaining an environmental balance.

Green buildings
Green communities try to incorporate green buildings which have been designed to take advantage and utilise natural resources including sunlight and rainfall. Recyclable and biodegradable materials are used where possible to reduce waste and encourage reusability. Priority is placed on energy-efficient appliances. Green buildings focus on using locally sourced materials and the green community environment uses energy-efficient lighting for building and all street lighting.

Open spaces
Community gardens may form another common feature of green communities where locals maintain the gardens for everyone’s use as well as grow and harvest vegetables and fruits to be enjoyed by the surrounding community. Such shared garden spaces are known to foster a sense of community, share skills across generations such as gardening and responsibility as kids and adults alike becoming involved in the community ventures.

Children’s playgrounds, ovals, green corridors, walkways, cycle paths and open spaces are dominant features of green communities. Planting trees, maintaining grasslands, using native plants are all typical to such areas. These wonderful outdoor spaces also prioritise using outdoor equipment that is recyclable or uses a sustainable material to complement the other aspects of their green community.

How to use Felton outdoor furniture to create sustainable outdoor spaces?
Felton has a wonderful range of furniture that is environmentally-friendly. Our most popular range is Peak Street Furniture which is Made from a composite of 100% recycled plastic and timber. The Peak Street range is long-lasting, durable and a great alternative to classic timber.
Our popular tables and chairs, shelters and bench seating range are durable, long-lasting and use locally sourced aluminium which can easily be recycled many times without losing any of its functionality.

To find out more about how we work with communities and their open space contact us today on 1800 834 016.