America’s Top Green Cities

One of the biggest decisions we get to make in our lives is what city we want to call home. Moving from one place to another is a complex task. Therefore, you need to be sure that you made the right choice. Sometimes when we have options, it can be really hard to decide. However, in those moments the best thing to do is to create a list of things that we are looking for in a city, like sustainability. Nowadays we should all strive to move to an eco-friendly place. Every day more and more cities decide to take the green route. Some of them are just getting started while others are already established as green cities. Therefore, today, Best Cross Country Movers presents you with a list of  America’s top green cities.

Moving to one of America’s top green cities is the way to go

Over the years the world has changed. Rapid industrialization and population growth have impacted the world. While the number of buildings grew the number of green spaces decreased. The lack of green spaces has a huge impact on people’s mental health. When concrete is all you can see around you, you don’t feel at peace as much as you would in a space with a lot of greenery. Therefore, you should strive to move to one of America’s top green cities. But what exactly is a green city? Green cities are cities that have large green spaces, like gardens, parks, plant walls, and that implement renewable energy sources, provide recycling programs, work on minimizing carbon impact. 

How can a city become a part of America’s top green cities?

Building parks in every neighborhood. Having a green space next to the concrete buildings will make people who live there spend more time outside. Whether it’s working out, playing ball with their kids, or simply catching up with their neighbors, a park is going to make a huge change in their lives. Furthermore, you too can help by adding vegetation on your balconies and the rooftop of your building. This is not only going to be pretty but also you will help the environment by emitting oxygen back into the air. Another step toward a green city is investing in renewable energy sources. Installing solar panels on the rooftops is a great first step towards a more eco-friendly place.

Another way of generating electricity without harming the environment is through wind and water. Even though investing in this can be quite costly in the beginning, they save a lot of money in the long run. The bigger the city the bigger the pollution. This is all due to the frequent car use. This is why many cities have invested in better public transportation. An efficient public transport helps reduce the release of gas and cuts down on the commuting time. Moreover, creating more and more bike lanes encourages people to use bikes more than their cars. Often they will arrive faster at their destination biking since they avoid traffic jams. Moreover, this is not just beneficial to the environment but also to the people who use bikes as the main means of transportation.

What are America’s top green cities?

Moving to a green city is the best decision one can make. You are creating a better future for yourself and caring about the environment at the same time. Therefore, to help you choose the city here is the list of the top green cities:

• Orlando
• Washington DC
• Seattle
• Louisville
• San Diego
• Portland
• Honolulu
• Chicago
• Austin
• Atlanta

Orlando, Florida

Orlando is the fourth-largest city in Florida. The O-Town is known for having more than 230 sunny days a year. Therefore, the city used this advantage to become a leader in solar power. In 2020 the city of Orlando helped its residents for a second time to get bulk pricing on installing home solar systems. Moreover, the city has created a Solar and Energy Loan Fund to help people make eco-friendly home improvements. These loans are targeted especially towards people with low-income, and they are low-cost. Under sustainable home improvements, they mean solar water heaters, attic fans, and roof solar panels. Since the creation of this fund in 2012 more than 4.000 people have benefited from it. This reduced more than 1.000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and lead to a saving of around 25% of home energy bills.

Furthermore, to reduce the food waste the city supplies residents with free 80-gallon backyard composters. To get one all you have to do is send a request online and you will receive it at your doorstep. Moreover, restaurants, hotels, and foodservice industries can sign up for the commercial food waste collection program and will be provided with carts on wheels for organics and food waste. The carts with food scraps are brought to the anaerobic digester and converted into electricity.  If this is not the reason enough to move there with the best cross country movers in Florida, maybe the fact that the majority of the street lights and traffic lights in Orlando use energy-efficient bulbs will solidify that decision.

Washington DC is one of America’s top green cities

This is one of the greenest cities in the country. Washington is one of the first cities that made biking popular. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that this is the most bicycle-friendly community in the country. However, if you are not into biking, you can always walk. The city is known as one of the most walkable cities in the US. Moving here with the help of one of the best cross country moving companies in Washington will change your life for the better. The city has 592 square feet of green space per person, which is more than in many big cities in the country.

The public buses run on alternative fuel that is not harmful to the environment as much as the normal gas. Furthermore, a lot of restaurants in Washington use local produce from the local farms and use composting bins to reduce food waste.

Seattle, Washington

With 787,995 residents, Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities. Seattle is the perfect example that a big city can be sustainable. Since 2003 it is mandatory to recycle. The more trash you toss the more it will cost you. A 32-gallon of trash costs $40.95 per month while a 64-gallon cart of trash costs $81.85. Moreover, leaves, grass clipping, and food scraps are recycled and turned into compost. The city banned single plastic use bags. You either have to bring your own bag or buy a paper bag. Also, all food service businesses are required to use recyclable or compostable food packaging.

Louisville, Kentucky

The city used to be one of the fastest-warming cities in 2014. To combat this the city has started planting more and more trees. Trees capture carbon which slows warming. There are a few nonprofit organizations that offer money for each tree resident’s plant. These associations are especially helping the non-wealthy neighborhoods since they have fewer trees than the wealthier neighborhoods. Moreover, to reduce the warming, the city found another solution- to install cool roofs. The city of Louisville is using more and more of these kinds of roofs on their new buildings. Also, the city is offering rebates of $1 per square to those who want to install these cooling roofs on both residential and commercial structures.

Bike lovers looking to move to Louisville in the near future with one of the best cross country movers in Kentucky will be thrilled to know that the city is constructing a Louisville Loop. This is a 100-mile bike trail system that will encircle the city. Another great news is that the city has committed to powering the city’s municipal operations with 100% clean energy by 2035.

San Diego, California

One of the main reasons why you should consider moving to San Diego with one of the best cross country moving companies in California is the fact that the city has great water and air quality. Moreover, there are many green hotels, which makes it one of the greenest cities in America. The city invested a lot and is still investing in renewable energy. It even committed to shifting to 100% renewable energy by 2035. The number of electric vehicles increased over the years which lead to greenhouse gas reduction.

Portland, Oregon

We can firmly say that Portland has what it takes to be one of the greenest cities in the country.  Public transportation is efficient, which makes commuting easy. Plus the city uses biofuel to power its buses. Moreover, a quarter of the workforce commutes by bike since there are long bike trails. To motivate people to use bicycles more as their main means of transportation, certain non-governmental organization offer free bikes to people with low-income.

Another thing that makes Portland one of the greenest cities in the country is the number of green rooftops. Every resident that wants to install a green roof gets $5 per square foot. Moreover, Portland composts 80% of waste and aims to recycle up to 90% by 2030. The city has over 250 parks and recreational spaces.  All the new buildings are required to follow the guidelines of the US Green Building Council in order to be eco-friendly. Moving here with the help of the best cross country movers in Oregon you will secure a bright and sustainable future for yourself and your family.

Honolulu, Hawaii

If Hawaii has been on your wish list for a while maybe now it’s the right time to relocate here. With the best cross country movers in Hawaii, you will have a smooth and swift relocation to this green city. Great weather, beach, and clear water are just a few of the things that make Honolulu a great destination. Moreover, Honolulu is known for its fresh air and pollution-free environment. To keep the city green, local authorities have implemented special programs and laws. Here you can forget about your car. The city is highly walkable. Most of the amenities are close by. Therefore, not many people use cars to go just a few blocks away from their home. Moreover, Honolulu has an efficient bus system.

The residents of Honolulu do all they can to preserve the city. Therefore, they take special care of the environment. Moreover, the city strives to make all new buildings sustainable. This means using reused and recycled materials, installing cooling systems, solar panels, and green roofs.

Chicago, Illinois

Another green city where you can move to with the best cross country moving companies in Illinois is Chicago. Even though it is a populated city, Chicago does all it needs to make the city more sustainable for its residents. Chicago has great public transportation. Therefore, you can quickly get around the town due to its efficiency. Thanks to this you don’t have to use a car and be stuck in the traffic. The city of Chicago takes great care of its green spaces. There are around 600 parks in the city and they are all well maintained. The biggest park has 1200 acres and it is Lincoln Park. This is the place where a lot of people gather over the weekend.

One of the main reasons why Chicago is a sustainable city is the sustainable energy-efficient buildings. The new buildings are built in sustainable sites, with sustainable materials. The city has a high number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified office buildings. Apart from that, the city has many recycling programs to reduce greenhouse emissions, lower carbon footprint, and reduce the need for landfills. Single-family homes and multi-unit buildings are provided with recycling services bi-weekly. Thanks to this the city of Chicago has been able to lower disposal costs, reduce pollution, and conserve natural resources. Moreover, contractors have obligation to recycle at least 50% of the recyclable debris.

Austin, Texas

Austin is the most sustainable city in Texas. Many local sustainability organizations work towards maintaining and implementing more renewable energy solutions. The city has created a program that provides solar power from local community solar projects. Moreover, the city has dedicated a lot of its land to green spaces. This includes parks, rivers, springs, and freshwater lakes. More than 200 parks are waiting for you after moving here with the best cross country movers in Texas. And on top of that, there are more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails!

Atlanta, Georgia

Southern hospitality and the low cost of living are some of the best things about Atlanta. However, Atlanta is not just that, it is also one of America’s top green cities. Atlanta was one of the first cities in Georgia to reduce its carbon footprint. Moreover, the city has mandated that all the new buildings funded by the city need to be silver LEED-certified. The Mercedes Benz Stadium is the first sports venue that has received platinum LEED certification. Moreover, the city has turned abandoned lots into community gardens. There are more and more projects like this in the future that will make Atlanta even more sustainable than it is now. Consider moving to this affordable and eco-friendly city with the best cross country moving companies in Georgia, and be a part of a community that strives to create a better environment for the generations to come.