Benefits of Creating a Sustainable Community

Greening your neighbourhood can help save the planet and boost your well-being and sense of community. If everyone in your neighbourhood started being environmentally-friendly it would contribute to cleaner air and less waste. Research indicates living in sustainable, green communities have a huge impact on physical and mental health. Creating a green neighbourhood can include passing green laws such as anti-idling bylaws, providing green supports such as lots of parks and transit and a green culture where neighbours encourage each other to be green. These help encourage sustainable living, from reducing energy and water use to better waste management and less reliance on cars. Working together on these help build a feeling of community.

Residents living in a sustainable community have more energy and a higher level of happiness due to the increase in sense of community and access to green space. When a community encourages walking, cycling, carpooling and bus riding, the reduction of the use of fossil fuels improves respiratory health by increasing the quality of the air. When more people walk, cycle and visit the green spaces, fitness levels of a community increases.

Overall it has been shown that living near even a tiny green space, dramatically reduces the risk of fatal conditions such as heart disease, due to the stress-busting mental and physical health benefits. If each community made efforts to become sustainable the total effects around the world would be enormous.