Issues > March/April 2005 (#107) > The Top 10 Green Cities in the U.S.: 2005

The Top 10 Green Cities in the U.S.: 2005

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Austin, TX

The only southern city to make the list, Austin (pop 656,562) is clean and affordable with 15 percent of city space devoted to parks and nature preserves, ranking well in the top tier of green-building cities with 19 building projects registered for LEED- (U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Efficiency Design) certification. Austin really stands out for its commitment to renewable energy, with the most aggressive short-term goal in the nation: 20 percent of energy needs to be met by renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2020. Austin also aims to take full advantage of the Texas sun with the declared goal of becoming the number one solar manufacturing center in the U.S. For activities, Lake Austin and Town Lake offer canoeing, kayaking and rowing and the city possesses 32 miles of bike trails.

Boulder, CO

Boulder (pop 94,673) is known for its progressive city policies, such as the Green Points Building Program which mandates builders or homeowners to include certain sustainable building components based on the structure's size, and their green-power purchasing initiatives including the Solar Access Ordinance, which limits shading and increases the use of solar power. While only eight percent of Boulderites take public transport daily, 26 percent commute without a car, taking advantage of the city's many bike commuting trails, and pedestrian friendly downtown. Boulder is off the charts on city parkland, surrounded by 60 square miles of public parkland and designated open space, about twice the size of the actual city, containing miles of trails and giving residents unprecedented green spaces access. Boulderites also have some of the best options for outdoor recreation in the country. The surrounding Rockies offer skiing and snowboarding, as well as hiking, biking, camping, and watersports in mountain lakes.

Chicago, IL

Chicago (pop 2,896,016) stands out for showing a remarkable commitment to green design and construction, with 42 building projects registered for LEED certification, and has an excellent integrated public transport system, prompting nearly a third of Chicago's residents to commute using public transport. While the city's transit authority is currently considering cuts in service, John Summerhays notes that it's too early to predict the outcome of funding negotiations with the state legislature. The city has also agreed to purchase 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2006. By 2003, the Windy City was well on its way to this goal, taking over 10 percent of its electricity from renewables. In line with the city's pledge of energy efficiency, Chicago offers tax incentives to city residents who buy historic homes and install energy efficient technologies, showing that a commitment to historic preservation and energy efficiency can go hand in hand. And the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) rates the lakefront city's water quality, compliance and source protection as excellent. For the outdoors enthusiast, Lake Michigan offers windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing while Rock Island State Trail and Sand Ridge State Forest are popular for hiking, biking and camping. Chicago does face year-round problems with small particle pollution, which can trigger heart attacks and cause hardening of the arteries, but this problem is being addressed: According to the EPA, the city is involved a diesel retrofit effort to reduce vehicle emissions and the State of Illinois is evaluating controls of steel mill, power plant, and other industrial emissions.

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