A New Way of Life
A community on the west coast of Florida offers a more sustainable way of living.
On the west coast of Florida, situated on over 17,000 acres of land near a nature preserve, is a sustainable community known as Babcock Ranch. This town, home to over 50,000 residents, believes that it is time for a fundamental shift in the way that we interact with our homes, communities, and environments. Each residence in Babcock Ranch is outfitted with solar panels and uses green construction practices, creating a model in between high-tech and eco-friendly homes in residential Florida.
The land considered for the Babcock Ranch project was already impacted, as it was used for panther habitats and wetland areas. Over time, the Babcock Project will restore the land that was taken into consideration for the project. The ideals of a sustainable city translate into their mission. Babcock Ranch has a, “Commitment to conserving, preserving natural resources, and improving people’s lives.” Offering not only sustainable homes, but also an environmentally friendly town center. Babcock Ranch understands the important role that a strong sense of unity plays in the effort toward a green community.
Usually, the idea of sustainability is paired with higher prices and lower affordability. However, these homes at Babcock Ranch start at around $195,000 bringing them almost $50,000 lower than the median price of homes in their area. These prices show that it is not only possible to be affordably sustainable, but also that this model takes into account all aspects of what it means to be living in a community, including accessibility.
Taking into consideration the social, environmental, and economic factors that come into play with a housing development and surrounding community, Babcock Ranch highlights the future of possibility. They create an affordable and innovative town as a result of socially and environmentally aware forward thinking. Babcock Ranch is a masterfully crafted example of what a sustainable community should be.
