Green Building

Since 2005, every new village in Lakewood Ranch is being built "green." What this means, is that these new Lakewood Ranch homes now incorporate building products and techniques that result in a healthier, more energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible home.

Green building is a systems approach to home building that recognizes a home is only one aspect of a bigger picture, the community. This enlightened approach joins the desire to provide high quality, healthy and efficient homes with the need to preserve and protect our natural environment.

While green homes are built differently than traditional homes, there's no difference in appearance.

There's also no need to sacrifice style, convenience or comfort to enjoy all the benefits of green building. In fact, one of the leading reasons to build green is to make life healthier for the people who live there.

To learn more about the many advantages of green building visit our Green Gallery at the Lakewood Ranch Information Center.

Living on a Preserve

By design, half of the more than 7,000-acres within Lakewood Ranch have been set aside as nature preserves, community parks and other open spaces. The thinking behind this plan is to seamlessly integrate the unspoiled beauty and tranquility of the natural world and the active lifestyles of Lakewood Ranch residents. More than 100 miles of trails connect the many lakes, parks and preserves of Lakewood Ranch to the community's six villages and provide a gateway for residents to recreation, relaxation and the wonders of their unique natural surroundings.

Wildlife
Hundreds of species of wildlife continue to live secure in their natural environments at Lakewood Ranch. In fact, Lakewood Ranch is one of those rare places where you're just as likely to run into a sandhill crane, an otter, a tree toad or a doe as you are your next-door neighbor! The precious wildlife living in Lakewood Ranch is protected and every possible measure is taken to preserve their habitats and ensure their presence into the future.

Environmental Practices
Caring for the environment at Lakewood Ranch is a continuing and ongoing process. Land is cleared for building with the strictest attention to ecological and environmental consequences. Unique wildlife habitats are left intact. Paths are routed in ways that preserve the integrity of the natural surroundings. Only trees and plants indigenous to the region are planted and encouraged. All of the water used for irrigation is reclaimed and re-cycled. The pits that remain after the shell mining done at Schroeder-Manatee Ranch quickly fill with water and become beautiful lakes that provide residents with places to boat, fish or simply relax. At Lakewood Ranch, careful planning and constant vigilance result in an environment where man and nature live in total harmony. A special place where precious natural resources are not simply preserved but constantly renewed.