For some master-planned communities that will make their debut in the Lake Conroe region over the next few years, environmental sustainability is one of the key objectives.

For example, The Woodlands Development Company’s newest 2,000-acre master-planned community, The Woodlands Hills, is embracing sustainability. The Woodlands Hills, located north of Conroe near FM 830, will feature 112 acres of open space, 20 neighborhood parks and a village neighborhood park.

Heath Melton, vice president of master-planned communities for the Howard Hughes Corporation—the parent company of The Woodlands Development Company—said the company focuses on being good stewards of the environment. He said sustaining vegetation preserves the forest and also caters to the fitness and lifestyle needs of homebuyers in the market.

Not only are developers preserving vegetation, but homebuilders are looking to incorporate green homes into the Conroe area market. GreenECO Builders, a Greater Houston-area builder specializing in environmentally friendly homes, will begin construction on a series of green homes in the Hidden Creek community in Conroe this December, GreenECO Builders Marketing Manager Lori Morrison said.

“We build homes a little differently than other homebuilders. We have not only the environment in mind but we also have the ability to let the homeowner live cleaner and save money,” she said. “At the end of the day, we’re building a home that is energy efficient for the homeowner.