HOW TO CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES IN HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS Design, construction, and post-construction

It is not easy to design, build, and manage housing developments for conservation. Conventional housing developments are the norm and it is hard to overcome this inertia. This chapter briefly discusses the goals of conservation developments (CDs), examples of CDs, and the steps required to create successful CDs. It focuses on biodiversity and water conservation and also discusses factors affecting natural resource conservation, such as energy conservation and efficient transportation. When land is subdivided, it goes through three phases of development: design, construction, and post-construction. Usually housing densities (number of allowable units per ha) determine the size of the built areas, while economics and planning regulations restrict housing densities and provide design guidelines for individual projects. Considering each of the phases of a CD would contribute considerably towards creating functional communities that measurably conserve natural resources.