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Daily Real Estate News | February 12, 2008 | Top 10 Green-Friendly Neighborhoods
Natural Home magazine has picked the 10 neighborhoods in the United States that it says have worked hardest toward developing green building, energy efficiency, and reuse of previously developed land.

Most are enrolled in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The winners are listed below alphabetically.

Mueller, Austin, Texas. A 711-acre redevelopment that has worked with utility Austin Energy to provide options for home owners who want tankless water heaters, programmable thermostats, and solar panels.

Greenbridge, Chapel Hill, N.C. A downtown redevelopment project that promotes human and ecological health. About 75 percent of the materials from the original demolition have been reused.

Stapleton, Denver. A former airport, Stapleton is the largest urban-infill redevelopment project in the United States, with 47,000 acres of reclaimed land a few minutes from the center of the city. The development is in the LEED pilot program.

Prairie Crossing, suburban Chicago. This development has green-built homes constructed under U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program and geothermal-powered schools with LEED classrooms.

Issaquah Highlands, suburban Seattle. Nearly 4 million square feet of LEED-certified commercial space and a LEED community center and firehouse.

Navy Yard at Noissett, Charleston, S.C. This 340-acre brownfield redevelopment on the former Charleston Naval base will house 7,000 families when it's complete. Homes are being built to LEED standards with solar and geothermal energy available.

Helensview, Portland, Ore. These low-density homes are being developed by a nonprofit to help renters become home owners. Most properties qualify as LEED homes. High-efficiency fireplaces heat many.

Pringle Creek Community, Salem, Ore. The community integrates 130 carbon-neutral/net-zero residences with LEED-certified retail and community buildings.

High Point, Seattle. This redeveloped public-housing project, mixes subsidized and market-rate homes, is landscaped with native plants. All new and redeveloped properties will meet Built Green and Energy Star standards.

Markham Gardens, Staten Island, N.Y. This 290-unit revitalization of World War II public-housing will be eligible for LEED certification, be Energy Star compliant, and be constructed with products that encourage healthy indoor air.