Sustainability

Let’s make this simple

The word “sustainability” gets tossed around a lot. And if you ask somebody what it means, you’re likely to hear either a fuzzy feel-good description or a highly technical, sleep-inducing explanation. At Wildlight, we see sustainability simply as a way of doing things that helps sustain our natural environment, our economy and the quality of our day-to-day lives (you know, the important stuff) all at the same time. Let’s explore a few examples.

What’re we doing about water?

Even in Florida, which gets the fifth highest annual rainfall of any state in the country, water conservation is key to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. So here’s some of what we’re doing …

Reducing the need for irrigation through native/drought-tolerant plantings and limiting turf

Carefully monitoring and managing irrigation to match seasonal needs

Taking advantage of reclaimed water and on-site pond storage for irrigation

Helping residents participate through education and a landscape
pattern book

Keeping nature in the neighborhood

In Wildlight, we don’t put nature behind a fence. We’ve dedicated over 11,000 acres to a conservation and habitat network we call the Wildlight Greenways. Not only will it serve to help maintain the health and diversity of native species, it will make real Florida nature a part of everyday life. This is what puts the wild in Wildlight.

Connected green spaces and corridors allow wildlife to move more freely throughout the community.

In our plantings, we emphasize the use of native species that support local pollinators and native wildlife. We’re even creating pollinator gardens.

Bio blitz! Wildlife biologists at University of Florida have organized local volunteers to find and document the animal and plant species native to Wildlight.

We’re adding bird and bat houses to common areas. Want a fun nature experience to share with the kids? In the evening, come to a park that has a bat house and watch those little black aerial acrobats (pun intended) zoom around catching bugs.

To educate residents and visitors about Wildlight’s flora and fauna, we’re adding interpretive signage and installing wildlife cameras.

Cooler, stronger, safer by design

Florida is one of prettiest places in the world. But the weather gets pretty hot and the storms get pretty powerful. Which is why we’ve made climate resiliency a fundamental part of the plan for Wildlight. Pretty smart, right?

Minimizing Flood Risk

So often, nature-based solutions are the best. For example, the Wildlight Greenways, with their extensive conserved wetlands and uplands, will help manage stormwater, create a buffer around homes and maintain water quality. They will also mitigate the risk of wildfire. And with roads elevated above the flood plain, we maintain mobility even when things get a little soggy.

Heat Mitigation

This is a huge need in Florida. By planting more trees and preserving existing mature trees, we’re able to increase shade and evapotranspiration (which is a fancy word that refers to the process that plants use to absorb water in the soil then release it through their leaves, cooling the surrounding air).

Shrinking Our Footprint

Reducing our carbon footprint is an essential part of addressing climate change on a global scale. Which is why we’re working on green transportation initiatives such as building out our Wildlight Trailways network to encourage walking and biking instead of driving, and installing EV charging stations throughout Wildlight.

Resident Education

Everything works better when everybody works together. That’s why resident education is a key facet of our sustainability efforts. We supply residents with helpful information on topics such as water conservation, energy efficiency and storm safety through workshops and other channels.

It’s In our Nature

Growing a healthy community is a lot like growing a healthy forest. And as part of a century-old timber company, we’ve been growing healthy forests for a long time. Sustainability. It’s just what we do.

Healthy people, healthy community

The thing you have to remember about sustainability is that it’s not just about the climate and the planet and the wild animals. At its core, it’s about sustaining us humans. In Wildlight, that includes innovative programs and features that support health and wellness for people as well as the social and economic life of the community.

Good Habits

As a fundamental community planning principle, Wildlight focuses on prevention and healthy living habits as a way to reduce the need for acute care. Take our Wildlight Trailways, for example. This expanding network of trails inspires walking, biking, jogging and fresh-air-breathing.

WELLNESS & TOGETHERNESS

With a UF Health medical center and a YMCA integrated into the community, residents have ready access to healthcare and wellness programs. And with parks, gathering places and community programs, Wildlight also supports a healthy social life.

HEALTHY BUSINESS

And what about financial fitness? Dozens of companies, including two corporate headquarters, have brought more than 500 jobs to Wildlight so far.
And we’re just getting started.

Supporting sustainability through raising awareness

We humans love a good cause. Just show us where and how we can help, and we’re all over it. That’s why we’re using the simple idea of engaging the public in our sustainability efforts by placing educational signs throughout the community. Here are some of the topics you’re likely to see in the months ahead:

Sustainable
Practices

Water conservation, renewable energy,
green-building design

Local
ecosystems

Identifying the location and importance of wetlands, forests and wildlife habitats

Responsible
recreation

Trail etiquette, “leave
no trace” practices, wildlife viewing guidelines

Outdoor
Classrooms

Trailside educational signage that teach nature, history, and sustainability for local schools and community groups

Wildlight
History

Telling the stories of the people and events that have shaped our region, creating a shared sense of community

Local Art
and culture

Artwork and cultural elements that
celebrate the
community’s unique character

A sustainable partnership

It takes a real group effort to make a real difference. We’re grateful for the many helping hands who have joined us in the effort to turn Wildlight into a model of sustainable community-building.

Our Heartfelt Thanks To …

for helping to develop innovative programs and services that better the health and wellness of the community.

and its Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program for teaching residents about yard maintenance, landscaping, water conservation and other topics.

for contributing to our residential landscape pattern book.

for leading a group of citizen scientists to find and identify native animals and plants.

for exploring innovative landscaping practices to enhance water conservation, land preservation
and biodiversity.

including researchers, public officials, state regulatory agencies, plant growers
and more.