(Hello again to Rachel, one of the bloggers trying out for a spot on the editorial team. Check out her most recent post, a tour of Anne's Green Home in Evanston.)
Number of bathrooms, number of bedrooms, dishwasher, laundry, and… sidewalks? When creating your housing wish list, does living in a fuel-efficient neighborhood make the cut?
Recently Forbes compiled a list of “America’s Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods.” Not surprisingly neighborhoods in all of the AT cities got a spot on the list. We live in Chicago, and our very own Logan Square made the list. Logan Square represents what is common for most Chicago neighborhoods: pedestrian and bicycle friendly, easy access to numerous public transportation options, and walkable distances to daily necessities. We can take the Metra to the suburbs, CTA trains downtown, and buses take us any direction. Within a ½ mile radius from our house are grocery stores, a farmers market, bars & restaurants, a gym and dry cleaners galore.
Transportation choices impact our climate. A common theme in the Forbes article is that the neighborhoods are located in the urban areas. According to Travel Matters, Chicago’s downtown has higher emissions that it’s surrounding suburbs and rural areas. But, when analyzing the emissions per household, the emissions in the city are lower. This is also typical for other cities that made the Forbes list such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Life without cars, more sidewalks, and more public transportation are things that describe our hope for a greener future for all neighborhoods. Changing your light bulbs and using non-toxic finishes is the start to greening your home, but where you live also shapes your eco footprint. People who live in fuel-efficient neighborhoods may be rewarded in many ways – less traffic, more money in their wallets, a sense of community and greener conscious.
Will fuel-efficiency affect your next apartment or house hunt?
For more information about living in a fuel-efficient neighborhood, check out these resources:
Center for Neighborhood Technology
LEED for Neighborhoods
Housing + Transportation Affordability Index
Location Efficient Mortgage
Photos: Logan Square: Rachel Wray, Traffic Light by Real Jim Bob, Chicago Map at Travel Matters
-Rachel
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
OMG! Is that traffic light real, and if so, where is it?
Fuel efficiency worked into our first apt. location and will certainly be an issue if/when we buy a place.
view whytephoenix's profile
Isn't that traffic light awesome? No, it's not a real, but it's a sculpture in a real roundabout in London.
view RLW's profile
Last year I quit my job because of the long commute and during our search for a home, we made bicycling distance from work was our top priority. We now live 2 miles from our work places, and only have to drive once or twice a week.
Treehugger.com also has an article on how the most walkable cities have the most fit residence.
view jeanied's profile
I moved to the Logan Square area 3 years ago and the many train lines totally influenced my decision in moving to a big city. Unfortunately it was not so much for the green aspect but for the convenience of public transportation. It is nice see that the convenient decision turned out also to be the energy efficient decision.
view CKT's profile
with higher gas costs, it is so important to look at these issues. I find myself driving less and walking more to get to the stores and businesses. Recent studies suggest that "suburbia" might become a thing of the past. With more people looking to live in the big cities where their jobs are and eliminate the expensive commute.
great job on your blogs...good luck!
view lovethatgreen's profile
I live in Columbus, OH where several neighborhoods have developed sustainable community initiatives. This information will be so helpful to bring to our next meeting. Gives great information and resources to provide a framework for our next steps and planning.
THANKS!
view SollieSukha's profile
I was looking for a Leed Certified Apartment Downtown Chicago, however the only company that I was able to find that knew of any for rent was Urban Lux does anyone else know of any Green Buildings in Chicago? Thanks for your help!
view Nelsoac's profile