As more people become aware and concerned about the impact our modern lifestyle has on our planet, there’s been a greater push for green living. If you’re trying to live a greener lifestyle, surrounding yourself with people who feel the same can make it easier. From top-notch recycling programs to alternative energy sources, here are some of the greenest cities in the United States.
San Francisco
San Francisco has consistently ranked as one of the greenest cities in the U.S. Long before the green movement even had a name, John Muir founded the Sierra Club in San Francisco in 1892. Today the city is known for its incredible recycling program. Around 80 percent of waste gets diverted away from landfills and into recycling centers thanks to directives that require separating recyclable materials. These mandates also apply to compostable materials, giving the city a strong composting process that sends natural fertilizers to farms.
Minneapolis
Minneapolis makes the list of green cities to move to because it’s one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. Minneapolis is known for its extensive network of bikes lanes and well-used bike share programs. In fact, companies like Nice Ride MN have around 200 locations in the area and offer rental options that range from single rides to 24-hour passes. However, biking isn’t the only thing that makes Minneapolis green. The city also has plenty of green buildings, like the Mall of America, which uses skylights instead of central heating to keep the building warm.
Portland
Portland has a well-earned reputation as one of the greenest cities in the country. When it comes to transportation, 25 percent of the workforce commutes by public transportation, carpool, or bicycle, and eight percent use a bicycle as their primary mode of transportation. In fact, Trucks & Parts ranks Portland as one of the greenest cities because it has the highest percentage of bicycle commuters. Additionally, there are 175 LEED-certified buildings in the city, and 33 percent of the city’s energy is renewable.
Honolulu
With all the abundant sunshine in Honolulu, it’s no surprise that this city makes the list of top green cities because of its wide adoption of solar energy technology. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that around 12 percent of energy customers on Oahu have rooftop solar panels. This compares to the national average of only 0.5 percent of households. There’s also a plan to start building offshore wind turbines to help the state reach its goal of generating all of its power from renewable energy sources by 2045.
Boston
Boston gets top marks as a green city because it’s one of the most walkable cities in the country. Boston was built before Henry Ford developed mass production of vehicles and made them more accessible for everyone. As a result, everything you needed was within walking distance of your home, and that’s still the case today. In fact, around 14.8 percent of commuters in the city walk to work.
If you’re looking for a great city to move to in order to live a greener life, consider one of these top choices around the country.
Article Submitted By Community Writer