EcoVillage NY’s Greenest Community
October 10, 2009 | Filled Under Green Homes
EcoVillage at Ithaca, located in upper New York State, is the first cohousing project in NY and the first place in the Western hemisphere. This beautiful ecovillage offers suburban living and provides a satisfying, healthy, socially rich lifestyle, while minimizing ecological impacts. Ecovillage at Ithaca uses green building approaches such as passive solar design, photovoltaics, solar hot water, high-efficiency condensing gas boilers, super-insulated roofs, several types of high-performance windows, straw bale insulation, rainwater collection, composting toilets, drain heat recovery and salvaged materials.
EcoVillage currently includes two 30-home cohousing neighborhoods. An organic CSA/U-Pick berry farm, office spaces for cottage industry, a neighborhood root cellar, community gardens and varied natural areas are also located at EcoVillage. Village residents have the opportunity to share common dinners several times per week in the two Common Houses and all help run the two organic farms located on the property.
This ecovillage or green community may not be for everyone, as there are rules in place to keep the community low impact. Prospective residents participate in a structured learning process before deciding to live at EcoVillage. This process helps people see whether EcoVillage is the right place for them.
Future village elements under consideration include more accessible and affordable housing, village-scale wind power, organic orchards, on-site biological wastewater treatment, graywater recycling, biomass energy crops, onsite biodiesel/vegetable-oil fuel production, a natural cemetery, and educational programs. Not to mention the 3rd neighborhood will be completed in 2011. This new neighborhood within EcoVillage at Ithaca, TREE, will be located on a hilltop close to woodland. TREE is a neighborhood of 30 small homes, which is passive solar, energy-efficient, green, affordable, and suitable for aging-in-place.
For more info on this eco friendly housing community, visit the EcoVillage website here.
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I think more eco-community housing should be developed around the world. M,aybe then more ignorant beings will recycle and try to be more green, as they wont have a choice this way. Good idea! I would love to like in a community like the one in the image.
The Eco villages or developments that are now occurring around the globe is a fantastic acknowledgment of people doing their best to care for our planet – earth. I particularly like seeing smaller dwellings and greater emphasis on the natural corridors, gardens and outdoor spaces for the village community.
For the last three years I have strived to live a greener life, but I do not think I could live in a community like this. I am not saying this ecovillage is not nice, as from the pictures on their website it is beautiful, I just do not think I would adapt well. Going green has been a huge step for me and I do not think I am ready for such a huge leap.
Eden, Thanks for the comment! I do not think the cohousing community housing is right for everyone. I am not sure I would adapt well either. As green as I try to be, I still like things that are not total green. It is all a part of working towards a greener lifestyle.
I too, find the ecoVillage very beautiful, I just would not be as at home as I would like to be there either.