With global warming and sustainability being the two hottest topics in the world today, it’s no wonder why more and more people are being eco-conscious when they purchase property. Certainly, there are many ways in which you can reduce your carbon footprint and do your part for the environment; recycling, using public transport, composting, eliminating your use of single-use plastics, and switching to renewable energy (to name a few), however, looking for sustainable properties can have a massive impact as well.

In this article, we’re going to look at sustainable living in Thailand, including some eco-friendly properties that are worth your consideration.

What does sustainable living look like?
The Thai government has been taking steps towards making their country more sustainable. One of the smaller changes that you may have noticed is in your local 7/11. They are doing away with plastic bags entirely and encouraging their customers to purchase and use ‘bags for life’. But, what is the Thai government doing on a larger scale to push their nation towards greater sustainability?

Thailand has pledged at COP26 that they aim to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
They have also expressed a desire to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation is continually striving to protect Thailand’s most tourist-heavy regions by closing them off to tourists. One great example of this is the closing of Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi – in order to allow the local ecosystem to recover from years of destructive tourism.
Another step is the banning of smoking on certain popular beaches. Given the number of cigarette butts that litter the beaches, you will notice a smoking ban in many places like Phuket, Krabi, Samui, and Hua Hin.
Trash Hero is a thriving initiative that has gone global, boasting energetic volunteer-led movements designed to clean up the local environment and prevent plastic waste.

These are just a handful of examples of the steps that many people and organisations in Thailand are taking to raise awareness and drive the Kingdom toward a more sustainable future. You can view a more comprehensive list with a focus on sustainable tourism here.

Sustainable Properties in Thailand
Now, let’s move on to some awesome sustainable properties in Thailand. These are condominium complexes that have been developed with the environment and sustainability in mind. Let’s take a closer look…The Residences at Mandarin Oriental
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental is in Bangkok, over 52 floors. But, what is it about this gorgeous Thailand property ‘sustainable’?

The installation of wellness systems focuses on purifying and circulating clean air throughout the development.
‘Resilient design’ addresses the potential environmental and social challenges large luxury residence developments have had in the past.
Effective water management introduces innovations in order to limit water use. It has a “Zero Waste Water” design that optimises water use while eliminating the release of untreated wastewater.
The development scored approximately 90% for the eco-friendly properties covering the development of living spaces with community, the control of economic building cooling, protection from flash floods, and indeed excellent connectivity with public transport.
High-rise condominiums take up far less land than gated communities and other residential property types.

Eco Resort Bang Saray
The Eco Resort Bang Saray is a 2 building development with 262 luxury apartments in total. This Thailand property development is one of ECOresort’s latest projects and another leap towards becoming one of Thailand’s leading environmentally responsible developers.

If you are looking for a ‘passive design’ with ‘green building’ elements integrated throughout your residence, this is the development for you. Here’s a closer look at what makes the property as ‘eco-friendly’ as they claim:

‘Passive Design’ is an architectural principle that leverages the natural environment in order to increase sustainability and reduce energy costs, all the while maximising comfort. A great deal of care and consideration goes into the initial design stage to ensure a luxury development with as little impact on the environment as possible.
Solar radiation analysis is used to determine which parts of the building will be subject to more sunlight and thus heat deflection is used to shield against the issue and promote efficient temperature control throughout the building.
Comfort temperature studies are carried out to ensure that every unit has built-in airflow features that result in individual units that are easy to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the height of summer (thus reducing the need to rely on air conditioning).
Wind impact studies were used to map the structure with unique wind tunnel features throughout, thus allowing the free flow of cooling wind to maximise ventilation.

The Serene Condominium
The Serene Condominium is an 8-storey development with 191 residential units that range from 28 to 149 sq.m. But, what is it about this project in particular that makes it an eco-friendly property?

For every tree that is cut down both directly or indirectly as a result of material usage, 2 trees are planted in its place.
Solar panels on the rooftop provide clean and renewable energy throughout the building, thus lowering energy consumption for each unit.
The developers rejected all non-recycled plastic during the construction process.
For every 1 million THB spent on units, the developer donates 1,000 THB to the Thai Environment institution.

ECOndo Bang Saray
ECOndo Bang Saray is a low-rise boutique development that has 64 units across 8-floors. It is a stunning development boasting sea views and a host of in-house wellness facilities (including a fitness centre, gym, and infinity rooftop pool.

Eco-friendly design with an emphasis on lowering energy consumption.
Strategic location with an abundance of health-focused cafes, shops, and restaurants in close proximity.
Community sky garden.
Compact yet well-optimised living spaces with versatile balconies in each unit.

Final thoughts
These are just a handful of the many new developments that are springing up throughout Thailand with a focus on sustainable living. If you are interested in purchasing property in Thailand but you want to have an as little negative impact on the environment as possible, you can’t go wrong with one of these magnificent developments.

We hope that you’ve found this article inspiring and wish you the best of luck with your adventures.