HOAs are often barriers to sustainable landscaping and solar energy – here’s how they could be bridges instead

Climate change, biodiversity loss and water conservation are often framed as problems in need of national policies. However, there is an often more important level of governance: the neighborhood.

By: Daniel Kramer, Michigan State University and Madeline Carr, Michigan State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 3, 2026

Words: 1,327

Last Updated: 55 minutes ago

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By Daniel Kramer, Michigan State University and Madeline Carr, Michigan State University

If you build a house in the United States today, there’s a good chance you’ll be living under the dictates of a neighborhood homeowners association – roughly two out of every three new homes are in an HOA, as are a third of existing homes.

Some of these HOAs have evolved to encourage environmentally friendly yards, particularly in the desert Southwest, but many …

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