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Free Resources | Land Use | Articles |
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Energy and the Human Environment: Toward Better Neighborhood Design Cont… The Success of the Village Homes Experiment Several statistical studies have been performed by others, comparing Village Homes with other Davis neighborhoods. They indicate that we have begun to achieve those goals we originally set for ourselves: reducing energy consumption and creating a safe, satisfying community. Dr. Janice Hamrin found that Village Homes residents consume half as much energy as those living in neighboring Davis subdivisions. This statistic is even more significant because the City of Davis has its own stringent, energy conserving building code and behavioral energy consciousness. Statistics from the police department show that crime rates in Village Homes are ninety percent below those of other Davis neighborhoods. The Village Homes experiment very clearly illustrates that substantial improvements can be made in patterns of development and building, while still working within the current institutional setting. Village Homes was constructed using conventional financing and building practices and conforming to current regulations, proving that it can be done. We do not view Village Homes as an ideal. We see it as a practical step in the right direction. Just as houses and the quality of life within Village Homes have been improved as we have gained experience, we hope that future developments will be improved to become largely self-sufficient neighborhoods. Most of the necessary techniques, equipment and knowledge are now available to do this. The challenge is to combine these many simple, practical, and economical steps so they work together and will meet the often archaic and illogical development and building codes. This will be easiest to do in a new development, but retrofitting existing developments should also receive more extensive consideration along these lines. In working toward becoming a more energy-efficient, healthier nation, we should be working on a comprehensive approach to increase the energy efficiency of our neighborhoods and communities. We feel certain that it is at this scale that the maximum can be accomplished. (A list of books which provide information about Village Homes)
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