Life on the water brings you closer to the healing blues of oceans, lakes and rivers. But what about the help to actually heal the earth? Experts say interest in green aquatic life may increase.
"Based on my experience and speaking with fellow brokers, homeowners buying a primary or waterfront vacation home today are more concerned about sustainability," said Seth Tilton, broker at ERA Evergreen Real Estate Company of Hilton Head, SC and a certified professional for sustainable real estate. "There is a lot more awareness of general wellbeing than ever and green living is part of it."
Most of these buyers prefer recently built homes, Tilton said, because they're more environmentally friendly than older ones. "A property that's 20 or 30 years old usually doesn't involve sustainability unless it has been extensively renovated because the subject was not so well known at the time," he said.
Features of a green home can include solar panels that provide heat and air conditioning, energy efficient appliances, LED lighting, and insulated windows and walls that minimize energy consumption. Waterfront homes can also include recycled seashells or colorful tiles as part of the construction, which create an environmentally friendly warmth and feel of place.
Here you can see green houses by the water in five locations around the world.
Bluffton, S.C.
price $ 2.95 million
About a 35-minute drive from Savannah, Georgia, this home is part of Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000 acre coastal community and conservation area with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental education. In 2003, the owners founded the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, a nonprofit that protects the diverse ecosystem of wetlands, forests, and wildlife such as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and gray foxes.
Once the project is completed, more than half of the parish's land will be in a protected zone that can never be developed. Every Palmetto Bluff home has eco-friendly features and amenities, including ample green space and walkways. several fitness centers, restaurants, a dog park, and a spa; and over a dozen land and water activities including fishing, sporting clays, and boating.
size 5,489 square feet
The home The five-bedroom, two-bath, two-half bath home is located in the River Road area of Palmetto Bluff, which is characteristic of its classic residences and borders a 120-acre nature reserve. It is bright and light with a white color theme and overlooks the inland waterway. The entry-level model includes a spacious living room with high ceilings, an open kitchen, a second kitchen and the master suite.
Another three bedrooms are on the second floor, while a fourth bedroom with a sitting area and kitchenette is above the three car garage. Sustainable features include energy-efficient devices and heating systems, environmentally friendly building and paving materials, and insulation designed to minimize the use of heat and air conditioning.
Outdoor space The back has a large screened in porch, and the landscaping is mostly native trees like magnolias.
Taxes $ 15,009 per year for homeowners; $ 42,692 per year for secondary homeowners
Alibag, India
price $ 2.3 million
This house called Villa Laterite is located in Sasawane, a coastal village in Alibag, three hours' drive south of Mumbai. It was built in 2018 and is just over 600 feet from the ocean. A popular second home and vacation spot for Mumbai residents, the area is known for its scenic beaches. excellent, inexpensive seafood; and cultural sites like the historic Kolaba Fort.
size 5,543 square feet
The home The villa is on three levels and has three bedrooms and baths as well as a contemporary Indian aesthetic of dark Burmese teak mixed with gold finishes and brightly patterned tiles. High ceilings and natural light are available throughout. A large living and dining room, kitchen and bedroom are located in the entrance area, while two further bedrooms and a family room are located on the upper floor. The third level has an uncovered tiled terrace.
The Villa Laterite has solar water heaters and LED lights as well as a generator for emergency power supply. Three wells, together with a rainwater harvesting system, supply the house with water.
Outdoor space The home is built on over an acre of land and the property is lush with native trees such as mango, lemon, papaya, and guava. It also has a large lawn, vegetable garden, lap pool, and multiple decks.
Sotogrande, Spain
price $ 399,000
This apartment is located in an upscale seaside resort in Andalusia on the Spanish south-east coast and is part of a residential community whose completion is planned for November. The community is located in the heart of the lively Sotogrande marina and consists of two buildings, one with eight apartments and the other with 56; This property is in the latter. All residential buildings have electric heaters that provide hot water with solar thermal energy, energy-efficient devices, LED lighting and walls and roofs with thermal insulation, which reduces the use of heat and air conditioning.
Amenities within the community include a pool and several green areas with native plants. The beach, five golf courses and activities like horse riding, tennis and sailing are just a short walk away.
size 1,119 square feet
The home The apartment, which includes two bedrooms and two bathrooms, has an airy feel and a modern style with light wood surfaces. The kitchen is long and narrow and opens up to the living and dining area and a hallway that leads to the two bedrooms and bathrooms. The main bathroom has double sinks and both bathrooms have large showers.
Outdoor space Next to the living room is a spacious terrace with uninterrupted views of the marina and the Mediterranean Sea. The terrace is also accessible from the master bedroom.
Taxes $ 1,143 per year
Marina del Rey, California
price $ 2.6 million
This three bedroom, two and a half bath home is located in Los Angeles' coastal neighborhood, Marina del Rey, known for its eponymous port and lively seaside restaurants. The property is one block from the harbor in one of the few areas near the water that has single family homes. Waterfront properties in Marina del Rey are mostly apartments and condominiums.
size 2,304 square feet
The home The house is divided into three levels and has a dramatic entrance with a glass wall and two story ceiling. Common rooms such as the kitchen as well as the living and dining room are located in the entrance area, while the bedrooms are on the second level and a large covered roof garden is on the third level. Sustainable features include energy efficient appliances and solar energy that heats the house and provides hot water.
Outdoor space Similar to a tropical rainforest, the space offers an abundance of palm trees and birds of paradise. In front of the house there is also a fireplace, a spacious terrace and a water lily pond. In the rear is a smaller slate terrace with a grill and a waterfall spa. A drip irrigation system waters plants slowly, a feature that saves water.
Taxes Around $ 2,750 per month
Tulum, Mexico
price $ 2.5 million
This house is called Sombras Del Viento or Shadow of the Wind and is located on a long stretch of beach near Tulum in a nature reserve between the rainforest and the bay. With seven bedrooms and bathrooms, it offers views of the Caribbean from most indoor and outdoor vantage points. Several restaurants and a grocery store are within walking distance. Tulum is less than 10 minutes' drive away.
size 7,534 square feet
The home The villa is constructed of concrete and has marble and granite surfaces. It is divided into three areas: one with a large kitchen, living room, game room with ocean views and a pool table, and four bedrooms including the master suite; another with two bedrooms and a second kitchen; and a third with a bedroom and an additional kitchen. High ceilings and oversized windows let in plenty of natural light.
The eco-friendly elements include solar energy, a rainwater collection system that provides the house with water and energy efficient appliances.
Outdoor space Shadows of the Wind has a front area with two large pools, a BBQ and a tropical garden full of palm and coconut trees. The rear offers a spacious terrace with a seating area and a bar accessible from the living room. Each bedroom opens onto a terrace, some of which are wraparound.
Taxes: $ 1,800 per year.
