The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle is the ninth expansion pack released for The Sims 4 franchise, and it was released on June 5, 2020. This expansion pack offers players the opportunity to live a life centered around environmentalism and sustainability. Players can now take control of their Sim's efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, recycle, and live an eco-friendly lifestyle. This pack offers a unique experience for players who are passionate about environmental causes and want to make a difference in the virtual world.
In Eco Lifestyle, players will experience a focus on environmentalism, and while it doesn't have a direct predecessor, it incorporates elements from previous games such as The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff, The Sims 3: Ambitions, The Sims 3: Into the Future, as well as renewable energy items from The Sims 3 Store. The expansion pack provides players with a unique way to live their Sims' lives in a way that promotes sustainability and eco-friendliness, with a variety of activities and objects that encourage players to reduce their environmental footprint.
Sources for this article and its images include EA.com and SimsCommunity.com.
Everything New In A Nutshell
- New World (Evergreen Harbor)
- Eco Footprint
- Neighborhood Action Plans
- Community Spaces
- New Career (Civil Designer)
- New Traits (Freegan, Green fiend, Maker, Recycle disciple)
- New Lot Traits (Eco Lot, Geothermal, Landfill Lot, Natural Well, Reduce and Recycle)
- New Aspirations - Eco Innovator (Nature), Master Maker (Creativity)
- New Skills (Fabrication, Juice fizzing)
- New CAS, Build/Buy Items, and Collectibles
Evergreen Harbor
The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle Expansion Pack introduces Evergreen Harbor, an industrial harbor town based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The town consists of three distinct neighborhoods, each with a varying state of pollution on its eco-footprint. Grims Quarry boasts a green eco-footprint, Conifer Station has a neutral eco-footprint, and Port Promise has an industrial eco-footprint.
Apartments make a comeback from The Sims 4: City Living, with two apartment lots in Evergreen Harbor, consisting of four apartment units in total. This brings the total number of lots in Evergreen Harbor to 15 when considering each apartment unit as an individual lot. This provides ample space for players to explore and create their own unique stories, while also addressing the need for compact living solutions in the bustling town. Overall, Evergreen Harbor is one of the best worlds in The Sims 4 since it has something for every Sim.
Eco Footprint
The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle introduces the concept of Eco Footprint, a new layer of complexity added to the game's worlds. The Eco Footprint system measures the pollution levels of the neighborhoods within each world, except StrangerVille, Plumbob Pictures, Sixam, and destination worlds. The pollution levels are categorized into three distinct categories: green, neutral, and industrial. The current pollution level of each neighborhood can be viewed on the world map by toggling the "Eco Footprint Mode." Evergreen Harbor is unique in that each of its neighborhoods is assigned a different pollution level. In contrast, all other worlds in the game start with a neutral Eco Footprint, with the exception of park lots, which have a green Eco Footprint.
Living in a green neighborhood with a clean environment provides numerous benefits for the Sims. For instance, a green Eco Footprint results in "Clean Air" moodlet, which provides a happiness boost to Sims. On the other hand, living in an industrial neighborhood with a polluted environment has negative consequences. Sims living in this area will experience the "Gross Air" moodlet, which results in an uncomfortable moodlet. Furthermore, industrial neighborhoods are more prone to fires. Players can observe other environmental differences in different Eco Footprint levels by toggling the "Eco Footprint Mode" on different worlds, but the effects are more prominent in Evergreen Harbor. For instance, players can see walking Sims in a green zone surrounded by healthy-looking surroundings, while an industrial zone is characterized by coughing Sims, smog, and even acid rain (with the Seasons expansion pack installed).
Sims have the power to positively or negatively impact their neighborhood's Eco Footprint. Sims can participate in neighborhood action plans, which are community projects aimed at improving the environment. Each object in the build mode has a small impact on the surrounding Eco Footprint, and this impact can be multiplied when combined with other households in the neighborhood. Roofing, walls, and flooring all contribute to either a green or industrial Eco Footprint, and this applies to nearly every item from every pack. Players can view this information by hovering over the item. Special objects, such as solar panels, wind turbines, dew collectors, house power generators, atmospheric water generators, power cells, and H2O siphoners, have a significant impact on the Eco Footprint by either positively or negatively affecting the environment. It is important for players to pay attention to these items and use them to their advantage. Additionally, these items can reduce utility bills and be used in any world, even when the Eco Footprint system is turned off. With the Seasons expansion pack installed, the efficiency of these items will vary based on the weather conditions of the day, adding another level of immersion to the game.
Eco Lifestyle seamlessly integrates with other expansion packs, with many pack-specific features having interactions with the new objects and features in Eco Lifestyle. For example, Werewolves can hunt in the trash, but the pollution levels will affect their ability. If a werewolf howls in smog, they will cough. Meanwhile, Spellcasters can use their magic to remove air pollution and kill swarms of flies which is particularly useful against the new death type, by being swarmed by flies. The Eco Footprint system encourages players to make conscious decisions to improve the environment and live an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Neighborhood Action Plans (NAP)
Neighborhood Action Plans (NAPs) are a feature introduced in Eco Lifestyle, which affects every neighborhood separately. These are regulations imposed on specific neighborhoods in the game through community voting. The voting is conducted by the residents of the neighborhood and up to four NAPs can be active at the same time. Sims can check the status of NAPs from their Simology panel, which shows voting hours, their influence points, and any NAPs up for repeal.
Voting on NAPs occurs every week from Friday 8 AM to Monday 6 PM. Sims can vote either at the community voting board located in a community space or through their mailbox. Each Sim starts with one influence point, which they can increase by seeking support from others, resulting in more votes. This is also a great incentive for Sims to meet and build relationships with their neighbors. The number of influence points Sims have determines the number of votes they can cast. The community can also vote for its own NAPs, sometimes overriding the player's preferred NAP.
The voting process affects a Sim's fame if they have The Sims 4: Get Famous installed. To repeal an existing NAP, Sims must gather five signatures, and the NAP will be revoked at the end of the voting period while NAP with the most votes will be activated. Players who have Sims with many influence points should strategize and distribute their influence points among many different NAPs if there is more than one open slot for NAPS to be able to enact multiple NAPs at one go. Players can also have more control over the voting system by turning off the autonomous voting of their neighbors in the game options menu, allowing only the player to initiate the voting process.
While most NAPs are environmentally friendly, such as power or water conservation initiatives, there are also non-eco-friendly NAPs that can be implemented even without the Eco Footprint mode. For example, the Sharing is Caring NAP prompts Sims to steal from other lots, while the Rock Your Body (and Mind) NAP encourages Sims to learn fitness and wellness skills. There is a variety of NAPs to choose from, making it possible to make each neighborhood in the game even more unique.
Community Spaces
In The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle, Community Space is a type of lot assignment that can be placed in any non-destination world. It's made up of four sub-assignments: Community Space, Community Garden, Marketplace, and Maker Space. To function, each Community Space requires a community voting board. The residents of the neighborhood where the Community Space lot is located can vote on which of the sub-assignments they want to be active. Only one sub-assignment can be active at a time.
Each sub-assignment can have different requirements and can have a distinct layout, look, and set of traits. For example, the pre-built Community Spaces in Evergreen Harbor's neighborhoods come with pre-configured sub-assignments and traits, so players don't have to make any changes if they prefer. However, if players choose to place a Community Space lot in another world, they will have to follow the criteria for the sub-assignment they choose. The Community Space lots can be saved to the Gallery along with their sub-assignments, allowing players to easily switch between different versions without losing previous work.
Civil Designer Career
The Civil Designer career in The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle is a career track that focuses on shaping the future of the neighborhood of Evergreen Harbor. Sims in this career have the opportunity to influence the neighborhood's eco-footprint further by participating in community voting for NAPs, and constructing eco-friendly items. The career is divided into two branches: Civic Planner and Green Technician, each with its own unique skill set and focus. This career has daily tasks that allows Sims to work from home if players prefer to do so. The top rank in the Civil Designer career has useful reward traits on both branches for players that are interested in making eco-living a lifestyle.
Civic Planners are focused on the planning aspect of the career and require logic and charisma skills. They play a key role in the community by presenting and advocating for their ideas, influencing the community to vote for their proposed neighborhood plans. The "Champion of the People" reward trait is given to Sims who have achieved the highest promotion level of this branch. This trait grants additional Influence, added Satisfaction Points when gaining Influence, and an increased likelihood of receiving gifts from other Sims. Added Satisfaction points in particular is quite beneficial for unlocking many valuable items from the Aspiration Reward Store. It is also one of the highest paying careers in The Sims 4, and has a significantly higher base salary pay than Green Technicians.
Green Technicians require logic and fabrication skills. They specialize in the hands-on side of the career, designing and fabricating eco-friendly items that can be used in the community. By reaching the highest level in this branch, Sims will be awarded with the Eco-Engineer reward trait. This trait allows for faster completion of Eco-Upgrades on objects and guarantees that Sims will always receive Eco-Upgrade Parts when recycling.
New Traits
Eco Lifestyle introduces four new traits for Sims, including Freegan, Green Fiend, Maker, and Recycle Disciple. Each of these traits embodies a different aspect of sustainable living, encouraging players to make eco-friendly choices for their Sims. Freegans are passionate about reducing waste, Green Fiends are dedicated to preserving the environment, Makers are skilled at crafting and repurposing items, and Recycle Disciples prioritize recycling and sustainability. With these new traits, players can tailor their Sims to fit their own personal values and play styles, adding another layer of depth to the gameplay in Eco Lifestyle.
|
Trait Name |
In-Game Description |
Trait Type |
|---|---|---|
Freegan |
These Sims reject consumerism and prefer to reduce wasteful spending by any means. They enjoy finding re-used or thrown away goods and foods. In fact, they have the best luck at finding the highest-quality treasures in Dumpsters! They may become tense or uncomfortable if they spend too much time earning or spending Simoleons. |
Lifestyle |
Green fiend |
These Sims are happiest when living on a green street and will continuously work towards making their environment more eco-friendly. |
Lifestyle |
Maker |
These Sims become happy when making things. They become sad when it's been too long since completing a project on a Fabricator, Candlemaking Station, Juice Fizzer, or Woodworking Table. They do not receive negative effects from crafting or repair failures. |
Hobby |
Recycle disciple |
These Sims are rapid recyclers that benefit from recycling and rummaging for bits and pieces, but should they go too long without indulging in their hobby... |
Lifestyle |
Unlike Green Fiend and Recycle Disciple, the Freegan and Maker traits have conflicts with other traits. The Freegan trait is incompatible with ambitious, foodie, materialistic, snob, and squeamish traits. Meanwhile, the Maker trait conflicts with the clumsy and lazy traits. It's worth noting that these two conflicting traits are only accessible for teen and older Sims, whereas Green Fiend and Recycle Disciple can be taken on by Sims starting from childhood.
New Lot Traits
The Eco Lifestyle expansion pack introduced several new lot traits to the game, including the Eco Lot, Geothermal, Natural Well, Reduce and Recycle, and a revamp of the base game Off-the-Grid lot trait, which now includes new ways to generate power and water. Each of these lot traits provides unique benefits and challenges that align with the overarching theme of the pack, promoting eco-friendliness and sustainable living.
The Eco Lot is a lot trait that promotes eco-friendliness at a faster pace compared to other lots. It is ideal for Sims who aim to reduce their environmental impact and live sustainably. Meanwhile, the Geothermal lot trait utilizes the natural heat from the earth to lower utility bills and keep pools warm even in the winter if Seasons is installed. Similarly, the Natural Well lot has a spring water source running under it, reducing utility bills by providing fresh water. These lot traits are great for Sims who want to save money while being environmentally conscious.
The Reduce and Recycle and Landfill Lots have been later converted to lot challenges. Reduce and Recycle lots generate Compostable and Recyclable Trash, and outdoor cans are no longer bottomless, so Sims need to actively manage their trash output. This lot is perfect for Sims who are passionate about reducing waste and living sustainably. On the other hand, the Landfill Lot is a unique type of lot that is not available for Residential, Tiny Home Residential, University Housing, or Restaurant lots. This lot is a virtual dump where trash accumulates and provides opportunities and challenges for Sims interested in collecting trash. The amount of trash that accumulates will be greater in lots with lower eco-footprints.
Eco Innovator Aspiration
The Eco Innovator Aspiration is designed for Sims who are committed to living sustainably and reducing their environmental impact. Completing it requires participating in tasks focused on eco-friendliness and community involvement, such as selling power or water using renewable energy generating objects, taking part in neighborhood action plans, and gaining influence within the community. While it can be completed in any world outside of Evergreen Harbor, the Eco Innovator Aspiration requires Sims to join and max out in the Civil Designer Career, which can be quite time-consuming.
The reward for completing the Eco Innovator Aspiration is the Influential Individual trait, which gives Sims greater influence over their neighbors. Sims with this trait have the power to sway the opinions of others, making them local heroes or outcasts with a single word. Although it can be an enjoyable experience when first starting The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle, the Eco Innovator Aspiration may not have significant replay value or a rewarding outcome.
Master Maker Aspiration
The Master Maker Aspiration is a creative and fulfilling one for Sims who love to craft, build and make things with their hands. To complete the Master Maker Aspiration, Sims will need to spend time crafting various items and honing their Fabrication skill. The aspiration is designed to be flexible enough to fit around other careers and lifestyles while encouraging Sims to explore their creativity and start new hobbies, like candle-making, furniture-fabricating, and even building bug farms. The Master Maker Aspiration is also great with the newly added Freelancer career branch, Crafter.
Upon completion of the Master Maker Aspiration, Sims will be rewarded with the Muse of the Maker trait. This trait makes it cheaper for Sims to fabricate items and reduces the number of materials needed to make each item. This is particularly beneficial for Sims who enjoy crafting as a side gig and selling their items on Plopsy, a platform inspired by Etsy. The Muse of the Maker trait makes it easier for Sims to maximize their profits and grow their crafting business.
Fabrication Skill
The Fabrication skill in is an important addition to the core game play of Eco Lifestyle, offering 10 levels for players to achieve. With this skill, Sims can hone their abilities in crafting dyes and objects using the fabricator machine, as well as creating candles at the candle-making station. The currency for these activities is Bits and Pieces, which can be obtained by recycling objects, primarily through the means such as dumpster diving. Although initially requiring effort and investment, a Sim with a high Fabrication skill can craft various furniture items and either use them or sell them for a profit. This skill is a great addition for Sims who want to live sustainably and express their creativity through crafting and fabrication while making money.
Juice Fizzing Skill
The Juice Fizzing skill is a new addition to The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle. It allows Sims to master the art of making quality fizzy juice, with a maximum level of 5. To practice the skill, a Juice Fizzing Station is required along with ingredients such as fruits and flowers. Upon reaching the max level, Sims will receive the Afizzionado reward trait, which ensures that all that is made will be of excellent or masterpiece quality. This skill is especially useful for gardening Sims, as it provides an additional way to use the produce from their garden and create a variety of mood-boosting juices. Additionally, if players have the Get To Work expansion pack, they can even open up a juice bar as a retail store, providing an opportunity to make money more money with this skill.
New CAS And Build/Buy Items
The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle offers a stylish collection of CAS items that are focused on simplicity and eco-friendliness. Players will be able to find a range of outfits that showcase the rustic-chic style, perfect for a sustainable way of life. The CAS also includes a variety of new hairstyles, along with a collection of accessories including fun items like paper bags with designs.
The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle offers a vast selection of new Build/Buy items, with a focus on the earthy tone, making it easier for players to create calm-looking eco-friendly homes and spaces. Players will be able to find over 120 new items to enhance their build-and-buy mode experience, including objects such as vertical gardens, renewable energy solutions, and other functional and sustainable pieces.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S