Luxury home buyers are requesting sustainable home features more than ever before, and developers are responding by bringing more sustainable, luxury housing options to the market—even vacation homes.
More and more homes are being built with locally sourced materials and are powered by alternate sources, including sun, wind, and geothermal. There is an array of technologies that help vacation homes be more eco-friendly, such as humidity-controlled indoor air, solar panels, LED lighting, smart-home and pool/spa technologies, and even private eco preserves.
Here, we spotlight 9 luxurious eco-friendly oceanfront developments with properties currently on the market.
Hokuli’a, Hawai‘i
Hokuli‘a is a luxury residential enclave on Hawai‘i Island and one of Hawai‘i’s most private and spacious club communities. Situated along Hawai‘i’s famed Kona Coast, Hokuli‘a’s lengthy shoreline slopes gently from sea level to an elevation of 1,250 feet at the property’s highest point. Founded on the principles of stewardship and community, the lots at Hokuli‘a are generously sized from one to two acres, allowing homeowners the opportunity to construct contemporary Hawai‘i dwellings that embrace the unique typography of the land, optimize ocean views, and blend in seamlessly with the natural landscape. Homes incorporate simple, natural materials like the local ʻōhiʻa tree, and each lot comes with its own agricultural easement for farming and sustainable living. Owners have the ability to tap the Hokuli‘a Community Association to assist with cultivating, harvesting and marketing their bounty.
The Reserve Villas at Rock House, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
The Reserve Villas at Rock House, the most luxurious collection of residences at Grace Bay Resorts’ newest low-density residential resort, soar 95 feet above sea level on the northern coast of Providenciales, and are designed to ensure a low environmental impact. On-island Coast Architects are implementing design features like sustainable limestone feature walls using the repurposed material from the cliffs below, grey water harvesting and maximum use of natural ventilation. The chic two- to four-bedroom villas will emphasize the surrounding natural landscape and promote indoor/outdoor living through private swimming pools, spacious courtyards and lush outdoor shower gardens. What’s more? During construction, Grace Bay Resorts built an onsite nursery to protect the local flora, to be replanted once construction wraps.
Turnberry Ocean Club Residences, Residence 5004, The Sky Villa, Sunny Isles, FL
For Fanny Haim, an award-winning interior designer who is creating a Sky Home at Turnberry Ocean Club Residences, luxury means having a direct connection to nature. The design team behind this multi-million-dollar home chose to implement raw pieces made from natural materials instead of conventional mass-produced furniture. The residence is grounded by a statement floor-to-ceiling wall of charred black wood, a Japanese furniture-making practice called Sho Sugi Ban. The indoor bar furniture is made from uneven pieces of marble, untouched and imperfect. The massive outdoor terrace is designed with sleek teak wood and lava stone flooring that leads to a natural herb garden 50 stories high in the air.
The Grand Residence R-4 at The Strand – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
The Grand Residence is located at The Strand, a new development positioned along an undeveloped, unspoiled stretch of coastline on the protected south side of Providenciales. The community is one of the most sustainable new properties in the Caribbean, with next-level green technology in both the residences and community spaces. The Grand Residence boasts Energy Star-certified appliances, on demand tankless water heaters, an optional solar package, smart home technology throughout, and the home is oriented for prevailing breeze with extensive shade structures. The six bed, seven bath home-away-from-home has 114 feet of water frontage and a built in iron shore edge and grotto beach, and its expansive courtyard features gorgeous native landscaping irrigated with catchment and reuse water to reduce water usage on the property. Priced at $10 million.
Roatán Prospera Residences, Honduras
Envisioned by Zaha Hadid Architects, Roatán Prospera is an eco-friendly village being developed on the island of Roatan, Honduras, specifically designed with the climate, terrain and culture of the region in mind. The residences are modular by design and feature sustainable timber sourced from certified forests on the Honduran mainland. The village has a special system in place to ensure that all parts of the logs are used to minimize waste and pollution, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint of the development. To maximize natural sustainability techniques, the units are also designed to be self-shading and open toward a fresh sea breeze for natural cooling while water can also be removed from the atmosphere via dehumidification when required. The homes are self-sufficient thanks to special canopies that double as solar power systems and trap UV rays to generate renewable energy.
Cove Club, Cabo San Lucas
Cove Club, which will ultimately have 375 homesites and residences, is the newest private golf and beach club and residential resort community in Cabo San Lucas. It is situated on 500-acres and includes a members-only beach club with toes-in-the-sand dining, four pools, private golf at the acclaimed Cove Club Course, a mountain adventure park, and an organic farm. The Cove Club development has 600 acres in preserve that will not be developed and kept as open space in order to maintain a sustainable environment. Plus, the project is moving away from plastic water bottles to metal bottles and providing those bottles to members and owners. Cove Club is also placing hydration stations throughout the property. The Sol House at Cove Club at Cabo Del Sol is currently on the market for $8.6 million. Refined and welcoming, the five-bedroom Sol House at Cove Club offers panoramic ocean and golf views from both the upper and lower floors. The master bedroom and great room spill onto wide shaded ground-floor terrace with private pool and outdoor shower. Four additional bedrooms on the second floor overlook a large private courtyard below.
Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda
Oil Nut Bay is an idyllic island resort located on the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda in the North Sound region of the British Virgin Islands. The low-density resort features just 180 distinguished home sites that each celebrate the island’s diverse topography and expansive sea views. Half of the 400 acres at Oil Nut Bay remains designated green space. Solar panels have been discreetly installed on rooftops and solar power generates electricity used for desalination water plants, air conditioning, refrigeration, hot water, community lighting, and more. The community structures at Oil Nut Bay are currently being built to LEED energy standards. Residents at the eco-friendly Caribbean development are highly encouraged to design and build their homes to LEED energy standards. To assist in these efforts, Oil Nut Bay’s Environmental Team will advise residents and builders how to plan and build structures that maintain the highest level of energy efficiency.
Itz’ana Resort & Residences, Belize
At the intersection of the rainforest and the reef in Southern Belize, the residences at Itz’ana were created based on “mission-driven luxury,” only utilizing materials that abide by regulations that protect the local forests. During development the homes’ connection to nature and the surrounding town was elevated through the incorporation of locally sourced materials, handcrafted decorations and furniture from local artisans. The carbon-neutral villas offer advanced water-conserving mechanisms and the option to add solar energy production technology, while maintaining natural ventilation through spacious outdoor living areas terraces.
Cabot Saint Lucia
On St. Lucia, the new Cabot Saint Lucia is currently in development and will offer luxury accommodations for members and guests, a stunning collection of residences and the first Caribbean course from golf’s hottest due, Coore & Crenshaw. Education, land protection and preservation of animal habitats are top priorities for the Cabot brand. The award-winning architect, Richard Hywel Evans of Studio RHE, is leading the design process. Sustainable materials have been carefully selected for a ‘naturally modern’ look that enables the best of indoor-outdoor living so owners can seamlessly enjoy the idyllic Caribbean environment year-round, making the best use of natural light and ocean breezes. The Fairway Villas feature stone and timber and a form that fits seamlessly into the sloping site topography. With no personal vehicles on the resort, it’s an opportunity for guests and owners to slow things down with a relaxing stroll, or a ride on one of the many bicycles or golf carts.