Editing Ecovillage (section)

== Environmental impact ==
The formation of ecovillages is frequently driven by a concern for environmental stewardship and a commitment to sustainable practices. Ecovillages frequently employ reusable power sources, such as solar and wind energy, and utilize natural materials, including mud, wood, and straw, in their construction. Such technologies as bioclimatic agriculture are employed in this regard.<ref name=":0" />

A study on an ecovillage in Ithaca, New York found that the average ecological footprint of a resident in the ecovillage was 70% less than the ecological footprint of most Americans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living Greener – Ecovillage at Ithaca |url=https://ecovillageithaca.org/live/living-greener/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> Ecovillage residents seek a sustainable lifestyle (for example, of [[voluntary simplicity]]) for inhabitants with a minimum of trade outside the local area, or [[ecoregion]]. Many seek independence from existing infrastructures, although others, particularly in more urban settings, pursue more integration with existing infrastructure. Rural ecovillages are usually based on [[organic farming]], [[permaculture]] and other approaches which promote [[ecosystem]] function and [[biodiversity]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Significance of the Global Ecovillage Movement |url=https://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D09TheSigOfTheGEM.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512162136/http://socialsciences.arts.unsw.edu.au/tsw/D09TheSigOfTheGEM.html |archive-date=2013-05-12 |access-date=2014-01-23}} [[Ted Trainer]] on ecovillages.</ref>  Ecovillages, whether urban or rural, tend to integrate community and ecological values within a principle-based approach to sustainability, such as permaculture design.<ref>Holmgren, David. [http://holmgren.com.au/product/essence-of-permaculture/ "The Essence of Permaculture."] Retrieved on: 2013-07-31</ref> In 2019, a study assessed the impact of community sustainability through a life cycle assessment conducted on three ecovillages. The results of this study revealed a substantial reduction in carbon emissions among residents of these ecovillages when compared to the average United States citizen. This study reported that residents had a 63% to 71% decrease in carbon emissions due to living in an ecovillage with sustainable practices and mitigation efforts to environmental impact.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sherry |first=Jesse |date=2019-11-10 |title=The impact of community sustainability: A life cycle assessment of three ecovillages |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619326903 |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |volume=237 |pages=117830 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117830 |bibcode=2019JCPro.23717830S |issn=0959-6526}}</ref>