Portland
Portland is considered to be one of the foremost cities in America for green living. The city has plenty of open spaces and public parks to enjoy, and renewable energy accounts for roughly half of its energy requirements. The Portland populace also do their bit for the environment, with around 25 percent of the city’s citizens using public transport, cycling or car-pooling to get around. Factor in the strong community support for organic farming and other organic products as well as local farming, and you have a city with genuine green credentials.
San Francisco
San Francisco, in California, has the appeal of a big city that still manages to demonstrate a keen investment in environmentally sensitive living. The city’s use of solar energy gives it a high rating for use of renewables and its radical cultural background has seen many of the enclave of artists and musicians that call it home either incorporating recycling into their daily lives or using recycled items in their artwork.
Boston
Boston, in Massachusetts, is one of America’s most beautiful cities with lush green trees and plenty of parkland. The city mainly focuses on using plants and wildlife spaces to promote green living. As part of its eco-drive, Boston is creating an engineering plant that will turn 50,000 tons of leaves into either fertilizer or renewable energy. Boston leads American cities in the use of renewable compost.
Oakland
Oakland, in California, is renowned for having the cleanest tap water in America. Oaklanders value organic farming and using locally grown products. The city also boasts the oldest wildlife shelter for plants and animals in North America. Oakland is home to the 611EcoVillage, a community that aims to create a sustainable way of living.
Eugene
Eugene, in Oregon, was one of America’s earliest green cities. Eugene has won an award for having the most sustainable public transit system in America. Most of the streets in Eugene have been constructed to optimize the use of bicycles and other eco-friendly forms of transport, leading Eugene to be described as the Emerald city due to its plentiful green spaces and greenery.
Green cities, green values
Cities that are committed to green living create a better environment for their citizens. Clean air is beneficial especially to people who suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma. A city with plenty of green spaces for physical activities also promotes a healthier lifestyle and is much more pleasant to live in. However, green living can also provide financial benefits. Businesses in New York were encouraged to make improvements to their properties by a rebate program that offered refunds of up to 70 percent from the utility company National Grid. There were also initiatives that helped businesses to reduce their energy usage, thus reducing business costs.
Americans who purchase energy-efficient appliances cannot only help to improve the environment but also receive tax breaks. A home energy auditor will be able to offer advice on tax credits that are available for energy efficiency. Different states offer rebates for different products, but furnaces and water heaters often attract rebates for residential buildings.
America houses for sale in these cities can be a good purchase. Moving to a healthier city can mean a great improvement in the quality of family life and, for rental properties, a city with good services and lifestyle will be attractive to many renters.
