PUDs & E-PUDS Under a Green Umbrella- The Trend Toward Mixed-Use Development

In a recent rambling, Bryant  had  PUDs on his mind. His "condition" must be contagious! I've been sitting under a green umbrellaever since with PUDs on my mind, too. . . E-PUDsthat is!       Bryant did a great job of explaining all about PUDs so I'll  not tarry there, but instead shall sally forth from into the realm of green building  in communities with renewable energy systems that have both creature comforts and quality of life components.    

 I can see it right now...a green umbrella,a café, a neighborhood organic market, a local artisans' shop, a bakery, office and live-work spacejust off the road, and further up the hill,  small, yet elegant abodes, townhomes and single-family residences all in a mixed-use eco-development designed for sustainability  and human-scale  living.

This ecovillage is environmentally-sensitive. It thrives on state-of-the-art strategies: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection, and indoor environmental quality that works with the natural setting. It offers quality space and surroundings to people who choose to live there. People who live in this village can conduct business there, or simply choose to relax in a pleasant environment.

But wait! This all is a reality, not just my Imagineering. In fact, REALTORS® and real property investors take note... "E-PUDs" could well be the next trend on the housing horizon. Ecovillages can be found all across the globe. Many years of ecovillage projects in Denmark led to the formation in 1990 of the Global Eco-Village Network. 

GEN's  aim is to support and encourage the evolution of sustainable settlements across the world. GEN defines ecovillages  as " urban or rural communities of people, who strive to integrate a supportive social environment with a low-impact way of life. To achieve this, they integrate various aspects of ecological design,  permaculture,  ecological building, green production, alternative energy, community building practices,and much more."      Ecovillages such as Findhorn. serve as models. Almost ten years ago (1998) the Findhorn Foundation Ecovillage Project received Best Practice designation from the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).

Another flourishing ecovillage is right here in the Greater Asheville area. This is Earthhaven   " an aspiring ecovillage settlement nestled in the forested slopes of the Southern Appalachians."   I visited Earthhaven a couple  summers ago...had the very attractive experience of listening to the murmur of cascading streams and birdsong,  the sounds of human activity, of people building a positive future together, of children at play...

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