What are eco-villages, and would you live in one? How rising energy bills and the climate emergency are changing our living habits and sending millennials back to nature
- Soaring energy costs and growing sustainability concerns are fuelling a lifestyle revolution, as more people trade city condos for tented suites and wooden huts in the wilderness
- A one-bedroom bamboo home at Indonesia’s Mandala Eco-Village costs just US$50,000, while Ibiza just welcomed its first ecologically inspired private villa estate
Buyers seeking homes with environmentally friendly features have been growing in number and, according to new research, a desire to cut energy costs is a key motivator.
While almost two-thirds of respondents to a survey conducted by JLL in May said that achieving a lower carbon footprint was important to them, saving on energy bills was cited by 82 per cent. Some 70 per cent of respondents also viewed the energy efficiency and running costs of their home as more important now versus pre-pandemic.
Helen Amos, head of sustainability services at JLL Hong Kong, says well-designed and well-constructed, environmentally friendly homes not only generate operational savings, they also incorporate natural light, improved ventilation and use sustainable materials, creating a more comfortable, healthier and more liveable environment.
“Market demand is leading to a change in the approach of architects and developers for both new build and renovation projects, leading them to bring to market projects with genuine green credentials,” she said.
Jack Brown, director of Invest Islands, a land brokerage and development company based in Lombok, Indonesia, with offices in Hong Kong and Australia, has seen the trend for eco-village concepts grow across the Asia-Pacific region.
“In every market, an increasing number of people are seeking eco-sustainable designs and communities, primarily due to the impact of climate change,” he said.