Decarbonizing the suburbs : how regenerative design can minimize the carbon footprint of single-family homes and communities

Abstract

This Professional Report investigates the possibility for regenerative design techniques to effectively reduce the carbon footprint of single-family homes in suburban and exurban communities. The onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic opened the door for an urban exodus with many Americans redefining their work-life priorities and lifestyle preferences. In this new era where a significant share of the population seek to settle in low- to moderate-density built environments, there is value in advancing the sustainability and resilience of these communities as a facet of the broader effort to address the climate crisis. The regenerative design and development approach introduces a paradigm shift beyond conventional sustainability where energy efficiency and net-positive impact act as guiding principles. The central element of this report is the exploration of two case study communities in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area that employ regenerative design techniques: The Genesis Collection, a niche cluster of 3D-printed concrete homes and Whisper Valley, a master planned community that operates on a geothermal energy grid. To support this evaluation, this report also contains an analysis on intra-regional migration patterns in the United States, a literature review on consumer preferences for energy-efficient home features, and an overview of the potential tools local governments and municipalities can use to incentivize the development of regenerative, positive-impact communities. By incorporating the regenerative design framework into the planning and development of single-family communities, built environment practitioners can create communities that actively restore, rehabilitate, and reconnect.Community and Regional Plannin