Where to go for a green home: the country’s most eco-friendly neighborhoods

Buying green

On the hunt for a green home? Ohio’s your answer. According to a new ranking, the state claims three of the nation’s best neighborhoods when it comes to green housing.

Oh, Ohio

Redfin recently analyzed real estate listings with green elements like solar panels, LEED ratings and more to find the nation’s top spots for eco-friendly housing.

The Malvern neighborhood, located in the Shaker Heights suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, took the crown. A whopping 66 percent of its listings boast green or eco-friendly features.

When it comes to eco-friendly housing, location is everything

Two other Cleveland-Shaker Heights neighborhoods joined Malvern on the list, with Fernway and Mercer taking the No. 2 and No. 10 spots, respectively. According to Redfin’s Natalie Schwab, the triple appearance of Cleveland’s Shaker Heights is no surprise.

“The city has its very own Climate Change Task Force,” Schwab wrote. “To encourage residents to reduce their carbon footprint, the city of Shaker Heights offers a recycling program, home energy assessments, energy incentive programs, access to financing for solar panels and more.”

Other green housing hubs

Ohio wasn’t the only state to make the list multiple times. Pennsylvania’s Chestnut Hill and Spruce Hill – both in Philadelphia – clocked in at spots three and four. Like Cleveland, Philadelphia also has plenty of green programs at work, according to Christine Knapp, the city’s director of sustainability.

“Under Mayor Kenney’s leadership, the city has committed to reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 by focusing on the efficient use of clean energy, creating zero waste plans, expanding bike sharing and bike lanes, and using green stormwater infrastructure to manage stormwater,” Knapp said. “These programs help to reduce Philadelphia’s carbon footprint but also help to create a healthier and more equitable city that people want to live in. Programs are most effective when they help address current problems facing our residents while also moving us closer to our vision of a sustainable city for all.”

Orange County, California’s Baker Ranch, Echo Ridge Village and Painted Trails claimed six, seven and nine, while Brooklyn, New York’s Red Hook neighborhood and Seattle’s Georgetown area rounded out the top 10.

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Looking to buy a green home in one of these eco-friendly areas? Shop around and see what rates you qualify for today.