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- Tours for the General Public
Educational, non-sales tours are scheduled by appointment for academic, governmental, civic and special interest groups of all ages. Please click here if you are interested in arranging a tour for your group.
- Tours and Information for Prospective Purchasers
Prospective purchasers should contact lot or homeowners or their representatives directly for sales tours or more information. Please click here for a listing of contact information.
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Sustainable Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed five areas of emphasis that are important to promoting sustainable development. Below is a review of how the EcoVillage of Loudoun County, VA is addressing each of these important areas of concern.
Low-impact development - avoiding sprawl
- Site is located on farm that is already zoned for residential development
- Site is within walking distance of 250-year-old hamlet of Taylorstown, VA
- Approximately 85% to remain as permanent open space
- Ten minutes by car from site to commuter train station (MARC Train)
Protecting vital resources
- Entire site is organically managed; covenants ensure organic farming, gardening and landscaping
- Approximately three-quarters of the site to be in forest
- Vegetable, grain and fruit production planned; animal husbandry prohibited
- Flora, fauna, air, water, soil, noise and stellar visibility to be monitored to assess and document impacts
- Building materials meet stringent health, energy, durability, manufacturing and affordability criteria
- Environmental toxicity minimized through the use of organic and biodegradable materials, products and systems
Transportation and infrastructure
- Public transit, ride sharing, telecommuting and on-site business activity
- Parking on periphery of clusters to ensure pedestrian orientation of community
- Planned foot and bicycle paths that protect and expand nesting sites, forested land, wetlands and other wildlife habitats and migratory corridors
- Low-water-use fixtures; advanced, environmentally friendly septic systems
- User-friendly recycling and composting systems
- Pre-wired "homerun" enhanced CAT 5 cable for telephone/data/internet and RG6 cable for video offered in each occupiable space of homes
- Sensitivity to local air quality and develop microclimate in house designs in order to minimize reliance on active heating and cooling systems
- General Contractor trained in sustainable land development and construction approaches
Quality of life and economics
- Commitment to sustainable economics -- localized business activity, shared appliances and machinery, shared child- and eldercare, shared meals and activities
- Living patterns facilitate collaboration while ensuring privacy
- Multiple valued roles designed to include individuals of all ages and varied abilities in community life
- Decision-making by consent or by raising timely objections which are reasoned, responsible and logical
- Community activities with Taylorstown and Loudoun County and the larger world
A new design for living
- Environmental principles and social ecology to promote sustainability in a synergistic manner
- Community systems that make adherence to the ecological and social objectives easy -- from composting to land maintenance
- Life cycle awareness as it applies to purchasing decisions
- Long-term commitment to sustainability values through covenants and environmental and architectural guidelines
- Recognition that any dynamic system has problems; commitment to creating conditions for favorable resolutions
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