Development: Creating Sustainable Communities

Zev Paiss

It has been well documented that most cohousing communities are far more sustainable than almost all other housing options now available. But how does cohousing fit into the larger issues surrounding sustainable development? This includes land planning strategies, being part of a larger pre-planned development, local food production, reduced transportation requirements, mixed use options and the increased social interactions these strategies allow. This interactive presentation is designed for those who want to take cohousing to the next level and learning how this housing option works with the overall sustainability of future community developments.

Zev Paiss has become one of the country's most experienced cohousing professionals. Over the past 12 years, he has become a nationally recognized consultant to sustainable developments. He is known for his expertise in the areas of Environmental Planning, Renewable Energy and Transportation and Neighborhood Community Building. Zev is the founding Executive Director of The Cohousing Association of the United States, an organization he ran from 1998-2002. Zev was the co-founder and president of the Rocky Mountain CoHousing Association (RMCA), based in Boulder, Colorado, from 1991-1997. Since 1997, Zev has resided in the Nomad Cohousing Community in Boulder, CO, with his wife Neshama Abraham and their two daughters.