A method for managing resource usage in an area for members of the area includes the steps of a) determining the initial resource status of the area; b) creating modification standards for the area which have environmentally beneficial attributes; c)--monitoring the execution of modifications to the area by members of the area for conformity to the modification standards; d) managing the performance of the modifications to sustain the environmental attributes of the modifications; and, e) verifying tradable resource units from steps a)-d). A method for managing resource usage in an area includes the steps of monitoring resource transfers into and out of the area; monitoring resource transfers to and from individual-members in the area; determining area resource transfers; determining resource transfers of the individual members; and, determining payment balances of the individual members based upon the resource transfers of the individual members and the resource transfers of the area. The step of determining the resource transfers of the area can include an accounting of resource units created through the process of steps a)-e) above.