An architect in the Netherlands has created what he says is the world’s largest carbon-neutral community, by ensuring all of the buildings there are eco-friendly. The City of Sun in the province of North Holland has been celebrating its success in promoting sustainability.

Listen to a report on the City of the Sun

Medieval city
Ashok Balohtra, the brains behind City of the Sun, first came up with the idea of a sustainable city almost 20 years ago. It is an island in the middle of a 60-hectare lake – roughly the same size as a medieval city, which Mr Balohtra says has helped create a strong community bond.

“For me, sustainability is more than using just alternative energy, taking care of the planet, the environment, nature… It’s also about cultural sustainability, social sustainability and economical sustainability.”

Solar panels
Houses feature solar panels and extra insulation and have water butts outside to make use of rainfall. One of Mr Balohtra’s main aims was to make it easy for people to move to the City of the Sun, at the same time as inspiring them to make other small changes to their lifestyles which can help save energy.

“To me this is a project where I don’t expect people to be more conscious. Using a sustainable way of designing and generating energy should be a matter of fact. It should be there like drinking water, like electricity, like television cables, a part of the ordinary. Our thinking is to make from the ordinary something extra ordinary. In my view its very important that people feel at home, that’s why I try to convince, more or less seduce, decision makers to think differently.”

Everyone who lives in this sustainable neighbourhood agrees it has a special, friendly atmosphere but many also admit a financial motivation for moving there.

Saving money
Gini and her partner Roland moved from a smaller property in another town to a large two-storey house in the City of the Sun but the change has saved them money. They told Radio Netherlands Worldwide:

“This house is much larger than our previous one – twice as large – but it’s quite clear that energy usage is less. Actually, the electricity has basically cost us nothing.”

Missed opportunities
Mr Balohtra says the Netherlands has missed opportunities in the past to develop similar projects because decision makers want to “see it before they can believe it”. Now he has given them the proof it is possible to combine sustainability with beautiful design, he hopes the City of the Sun will be used as a blueprint for further similar towns and communities.

"It’s always a big question how come this is the only City of the Sun in the last 20 years? Or in Europe or in the world? That’s a point where I have to say, we haven’t succeeded... The fact this is the only project and we haven’t been able to multiply it by just showing its there.

“Now they see and feel a little bit ashamed and say 'why didn’t we do it?' and I think we will very soon have multiplications of this, because of their consciousness and because it is beautiful to see.”