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Is Moving to a Retirement Community Good for the Environment?

A senior couple gardening together

People everywhere are looking to reduce their impact on the environment. Whether it’s because they enjoy the planet’s natural beauty and want to help preserve it for future generations or are realizing a more environmentally friendly lifestyle also comes with several financial benefits, people are looking for ways to live a more sustainable life. Today’s older adults, the very ones who are responsible for creating some of the current eco-friendly policies and sustainability programs we use today, continue to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One way they’ve discovered to make their lifestyle more environmentally friendly is by downsizing to a retirement community like Freedom Square of Seminole. 

How is Moving into a Retirement Community Good for the Environment?

Think about your current home and how much of its space you actually use. If there are rooms you don’t even go into, downsizing to a retirement community like Freedom Square can ensure you’re using all the space you have. But even if you want to be more environmentally conscious, it’s a lot easier when it comes with changes you probably won’t even notice. To give you an idea of what we mean, here are some environmentally friendly benefits of retirement living that will also help make your life even better: 

  • Save time. A maintenance-free retirement community gives you more time to pursue your passions, whether that’s volunteering for an environmental cause, learning how to paint or playing indoor water volleyball. 
  • Energy savings. A smaller space is easier and cheaper to cool and heat (for those rare times it gets colder than usual) – multiply that across all a community’s residences and common spaces and those seemingly small efficiencies can start to have a big impact. 
  • Responsible downsizing. Moving from a larger living space to a smaller one means you’re more than likely going to need to part with some of your possessions. Rather than throwing it out, the more sustainable option is to pass on treasured heirlooms to family and friends. Plus, you can donate vintage clothes, furniture and collectibles to thrift stores or have a sale. You’ll put less in the landfill and give your items a second life. 
  • More responsible dining. Cooking for one or two people can result in a lot of leftover food. Not only do community dining programs try to use more locally sourced items, but their menus and portion sizes are designed to reduce food waste. 
  • Reduced carbon footprint. Living close to everything you need (dining, fitness, classes and socializing) means less driving. If you do need to run errands, most communities offer scheduled transportation for shopping, doctor appointments and other outings. Note: If you’re curious about your carbon footprint, you can figure it out here.  
  • Smaller community footprint. Most communities are like a little town with all the services and amenities you could ever need right outside your door. That saves space and reduces the resources needed to clean, maintain and upkeep the community. It also ensures more of the community’s offerings get used more frequently. 

Being Green is Easier Than Ever

From communal gardens and shuttle buses to co-housing and community building, Freedom Square takes pride in becoming an environmentally conscious community. Ready to think green? Schedule a visit to our 15-acre campus with two ponds and a beautiful garden-like setting for your retirement living.