by Ryan Hawkes

How much land is in your backyard? Americans and suburbs have spread themselves pretty far out -- 46 percent of us now live in the suburbs -- gobbling up an abundance of otherwise usable land to create homogeneous green lawns, pavement, palatial homes and rambling strip malls. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised, since the U.S., which is home to just under five percent of the world’s population, is responsible for the use of almost one-third of the world’s resources. So, when one thinks of the ‘burbs, it’s difficult to imagine changing these communities to function on a more sustainable level. But Americans can address this complicated problem with a simple solution: focus their attention locally, and change the typical lifestyle that produced the sprawl in the first place.

These developments make it tough to sustain ourselves.
The suburbs require a tremendous amount of resources to support a relatively small number of people. Every day, suburbanites hop into their cars, typically driving themselves long distances into urban centers to get to work, the store, school, or wherever they need to go. This dependence on the car reduces the likelihood that people will need to walk, decreasing their physical activity and increasing the amount of pollution that pours into to the local environment. Suburban strip malls are increasingly being populated by businesses run by corporations, instead of Mom and Pop, which creates a system of economic dependence based on remotely located decision makers. These mythical lightning-bolt slingers tend to make choices for their shareholders first, and for the communities’ social, environmental and economic needs second. This only serves to exacerbate the challenges already present in the sprawling suburbs.

The good news in all this is that suburbanites everywhere can do something about it, without having to move onto a farm and grow their own food. It’s as simple as making more conscious lifestyle choices. One example: If consumers buy more local products, they retain more control over their local resources. Local organic farming, including Community Supported Agriculture (CSA -- subscription boxes from local farmers), farmers markets, and other consumer goods from small businesses increase consumers’ access to fresh food and high quality products. This reduces the dependence on transporting goods from across the globe, thereby reducing the dependence on foreign oil. Communities retain their dollars while giving up some demand for agricultural products from countries that, despite their own needs (usually due to economic restructuring), export food when they have malnourished citizens.

Living in the suburbs requires a motor-vehicle, and the demand for easy, quick and convenient travel will not change overnight, next month, or next. Unless you plan on bicycling an excessive amount of miles a day, being behind the wheel and successfully living in the suburbs are unfortunately connected. What is a conscious suburbanite to do? Consider getting your hands on a more efficient car. They don’t even have to be one of those fancy gasoline-electric hybrids, thanks to biodiesel, a more healthy alternative when running a diesel car. Biodiesel is made of renewable resources, grown in Americas’ heartland, or even in your own region. Separating diesel from vegetable oil offers up a cleaner-burning product, as well as a functional byproduct: glycerin, which has many function uses, including something as simple as soap.

mmm, biodiesel.
Diesel made of renewable vegetable products can fuel your car and reduce your emissions. According to the National Biodiesel Board, engines run with biodiesel produce 48 percent less carbon monoxide emissions, 100 percent less sulfur oxides and sulfites, and 50 percent less ozone (smog-causing) emissions when compared with petroleum-based diesel. Not only that, you get super gas mileage.

Check out Volkswagen's TDI version of their popular Golf, Jetta and New Beetles. These diesel vehicles run at 42-49 mpg and offer trendy, stylish rides. Or how about buying an older classic diesel car, and running it on biodiesel? You’ll grab some attention down the road in a sleek classic Toyota Landcruiser, especially if your exhaust smells more like popcorn than diesel fumes. Biodiesel emissions may not be as clean as the more expensive modern hybrid cars, but you may not be contributing to the manufacturing of new cars, thereby reducing consumption levels even further and your options vary greater because of the choices of diesel vehicles available.

A great example of a community that is embracing these local ideals is Dupont, Wash. The city planners and government officials stand by their commitment to developing a town based on principles of community and environmental design. A strong mix of homes, jobs and services, compact residential neighborhoods connected to green space, business, and transportation options. Just outside of Olympia, the state capitol, Dupont houses around 3,300 people in a town with total acreage of about 3,700. They have projects for their land use for the next decade to include increasing green space, as well as residential and business areas to accommodate an estimated 10,000 residents.

Dupont has certainly taken some steps in the right direction, but there are miles and miles yet to go. Further correcting problems in the design and planning of suburban communities requires innovation: increasing density, varying accepted lifestyles, and ultimately recognizing the benefits inherent in new visions of sustainable living. Architects such as Edward Mazria see the need in building designs to accept responsibility for energy consumption levels; architecture accounts for 48 percent, versus 27 percent for transportation and 25 percent for industry. The impact that architects, designers and landscapers can have on sustainable suburban communities has fantastic potential. Why spend the money and use the resources trying to drive a more future-friendly car if you live in a gas-guzzling home?

Build a Glidehouse, and your backyard will love you.
As such, designing a home to include conservation is the quickest way towards sustaining suburban environments. Unfortunately, it also is the most difficult, though there are many resources for those interested in checking it out (click here to access SSF’s online source book for architecture). Additionally, there is a growing movement for creating pre-fabricated homes, similar in manufacturing techniques to those half-homes you see being carted down the freeway, that are environmentally and design friendly. A cool example of this is Glidehouse. Designed for the modern home lover, this pre-fabricated house is designed to "collaborate with nature." Not only environmentally friendly, the designs include an emphasis on views, open space and clean lines, creating a modern, green, cost-efficient home.

Considering the relative youth of "sustainability" as a mass movement, the growing demand for more sustainable options reflects the growing awareness that environmental issues stem not only from insufficient government regulation, but from the effects of the consumption habits of typical Americans as well. It is the power of choice that will transform local markets and thereby global markets. Capitalism is based on demand, and not necessarily on high levels of consumption. Choices that consumers make, including choices for high quality, sustainable products, can have an enormous impact on the economy, both at a local and global level.

This movement is not based on trends; rather, it is gaining momentum as more and more people begin understand of the needs of all global citizens. We have been told, time and time again, that we are consumers, who vote with our pocketbooks. So remember this when making decisions, your vote means less than your dollar to the current political leadership. By buying locally, choosing a lifestyle that removes yourself from the consumer paradigm, and educating yourself, you make the first steps towards an alternative economic model that rewards you with a healthy environment and stronger community.

For more Modern Pre-Fabricated homes check out the growing list at: fabprefab.com

Get more info on all the benefits of biodiesel at: biodiesel.org

Find a Farmers Market near you: usda.gov/farmersmarkets



Ryan Dwayne Hawkes, is a Masters Student in Environment & Community at Antioch University Seattle’s Center for Creative Change.