On the Market5 Sustainable Homes for Sale That Prove Green Architecture Is Here to StayFrom New York City to Malibu, these spots are as eco-focused as ever

By Jessica Cherner

November 16, 2021

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With prime desert views, the Malibu mansion is California’s first zero-carbon ready-certified home.Photo: Tanveer Badal 

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Rarely are interior and architecture trends hatched out of thin air; they’re inspired by everything from Pantone’s annual color of the year (let us not forget 2016, when rose quartz took over the most-liked spaces on Instagram) to past eras that had quite a big impact on the design scene. Some big moments in design, however, are rooted in more sobering developments. One such trend that, thankfully, shows no sign of slowing down? Sustainability. Given the frequency of tragic weather events, including wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, architects and interior designers are now focusing on environmental conservation, which is more than essential.

Luckily, the highly sustainable new real estate is placing a massive emphasis on challenging climate change. From Malibu to the Catskills, the homes on the market across the U.S. are shining stars in environmental protection. Think multimillion dollar estates with organic fruit orchards and vegetable gardens with apiary for pollination and honey harvests, Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood floors, and MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 13 Zehnder ventilation systems, among other creative amenities that combat global warming.

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  Photo: Marshall Elias for Sotheby’s International Realty1/5Youngsville, New Mexico

  The River Ranch, a four-bedroom lodge on Mesa Prieta Road, was constructed in 2012 by highly sought-after Santa Fe John Wolf across two adjacent 500 acres (both of which are separately deeded tracts). A steel and concrete masterpiece with neighboring guest casitas, the ranch house boasts its private 800-foot-wide well, an energy-efficient filtration system, sophisticated liquid-waste system, and an in-ground irrigation system that waters the diverse native high desert landscaping. Wolf built the home in such a way that would offer paramount views of the nearby pink and red rolling hills and the Piedra Lumbre valley, which was forever memorialized by acclaimed artist Georgia O’Keefe’s work.

  Price: From $9 million

  Beds/Baths: 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath

  Square Footage: 5,553 square feet

  For more information, please click here.

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  Photo: Tanveer Badal2/5Malibu, California

  Sitting in the middle of two lush acres with more than 460 feet of prime Pacific views, the six-bedroom, nine-bathroom, modern ranch-style home is 100% powered by electricity. Plus, it’s constructed using recycled concrete and sustainable timber, and it is entirely powered by Tesla batteries and solar panels. There’s also an electric car charging station.

  More notably, however, it is the first zero-carbon ready-certified home in California. As part of the MariSol Malibu Zero Series, which is a collection of four zero-carbon homes nestled between the Santa Monica mountains and the white-sand Pacific beaches, the house on Ellice Street comes complete with charming organic vegetable and herb gardens, a functional orchard, and even an apiary.

  Price: $32 million

  Beds/Baths: 6 bedrooms, 9 full baths

  Square Footage: 14,429 square feet

  For more information, please click here.

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  Photo: Binyan Studios3/5New York City

  Situated within the historic heart of New York City’s Financial District, the FXCollaborative-designed, 42-story Jolie boasts an impressive LEED certification and will be approximately 30% more energy efficient than the current code even requires. The 90 condominium residences, which start on the 15th floor, make judicious use of glass and variable refrigerant flow heating and cooling that are twice as efficient as more typical systems. Not to mention the thoughtful interiors, which feature a pleated glass curtain wall façade that offers sparkling Hudson River views, designed by AD100 designer Deborah Berke Partners make for an ultra-contemporary haven above the busy streets below.

  Price: From $1.7 million

  Beds/Baths: From 1 bedroom, 1 full bath, 1 half bath

  Square Footage: From 842 square feet

  For more information, please click here.

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  Photo: Michael Brands for Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty4/5Snowmass, Colorado

  Right smack-dab in the middle of a 69-acre estate that’s scattered with irrigated fields and dotted with old-growth trees, the five-bedroom Snowmass chalet, dubbed Quad III Ranch, is outfitted from wall to wall in classic Ralph Lauren furniture and fabrics. The largely self-sustaining ranch comes with a 5,000-watt hydroelectric system for renewable energy and solar thermal-assisted heating. After all, the circa 1989 home has been meticulously updated and renovated to emphasize optimal energy efficiency.

  Price: From $14.2 million

  Beds/Baths: 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 1 half bath

  Square Footage: 5,553 square feet

  For more information, please click here.

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  Photo: Matthew Williams5/5Brooklyn, New York

  One of the Brooklyn Home Company’s latest projects, a ground-up development at 488 Sterling Place in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, is a masterclass in stylish sustainability that employs European building techniques to allow for a much more energy-efficient (and significantly quieter) living situation in all of the 25 high-performance residences. Not to mention the high-grade indoor air quality courtesy of the expertly integrated ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) filtration system, which extracts toxins that float in the air for 24 hours a day. It also filters incoming air and maintains a moderate humidity level.

  The development at 488 Sterling utilizes electric power—completely eliminating the use of fossil fuels—and nontoxic, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint, so that the residences are as healthy for the homeowners as they are for the environment. Plus, the impressive suite of amenities, including a bike storage room and electric car charging stations, further enforce family-owned and family-led boutique development firm’s commitment to sustainability.

  Price: From $850,000

  Beds/Baths: From 1 bedroom, 1 full bath

  Square Footage: From 706 square feet

  For more information, please click here.