Three Cities that are going Green

MHomes.com ForRent.com NATIONS LEADING APARTMENT RESOURCE Three Cities THAT ARE Going Green 1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Chicago has been effectively going green since the election of mayor Richard M. Daley in 1989. 121 Attractions:4 The windy city houses environmentally-conscious conservatories, museums, planetariums, galleries, zoos, and aquariums. Green Roofs 1) Hotels & Restaurants (4 Installing plants on city rooftops moderates the Fifteen Chicago hotels are Green Seal certified for temperature of buildings and reduces levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. fostering environmentally friendly practices. The city has more certifications than any other city in the United States. As of 2010, Chicago has 359 GREEN ROOFS, TOTALING 5.5 MILLION Chicago houses a slew of restaurants that have SQUARE FEET. either gained Green Seal or Green Restaurant Association certifications. The green roofs atop municipal buildings in Chicago also house beehives, which help to sustain and polli- nate the entire city's flower population. ш щ ш Transportation [1) Businesses 13] Green Dot Environmental's office in There are 315 MILES The city has plans to OF BIKEWAYS SPANNING the install 500 MILES OF BIKEWAYS AND Chicago offers consulting services for companies and individuals entirety of Chicago. 10,000 BIKE RACKS BY 2015. HOPING TO REDUCE THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. -------- CIC ENERGY CONSTRUCTION & SUPPLY PROVIDES, INSTALLS, AND MONITORS SOLAR AND WIND SYSTEMS FOR CHICAGO RESIDENTS The city boasts the second largest public of one of the top five transit system in the nation, which moves Given the distinction AND BUSINESSES. "MOST WALKABLE The company prides itself on steering CITIES INAMERICA" over 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY by Prevention Magazine for several years. businesses closer to WEEKDAY. LEED certification. X Chicago Transit Authority's entire bus fleet not only consists CO2 of hybrids, but each is fueled by Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) in an effort to reduce emissions as much as possible. Carpet Cleaning Chicago uses only environmentally friendly materials to clean your home or business. Chicago welcomes car sharing companies like iGo and Zipcar®, which dramatically decrease IGO My wa. environmentally harmful forms of transportation and increase eco-friendly methods like walking, biking, and public transportation. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON Environmental consciousness through recycling isn't just encouraged in Seattle-it's the law. 41 Residents: 15) and 45.7% 66.9% of Seattle residents are Eco-conscious are recycling-conscious Businesses 3) Seattle will soon house The Bullitt Center, an office building projected to have a life of 250 YEARS AND PRODUCE AS MUCH WATER AND ELECTRICITY AS IT CONSUMES. APARTMENTS FOR RENT MAGAZINE® DISTRIBUTED IN ŞEATTLE IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER AND HAS INSERT CARDS PRINTED ON A UV PRESS THAT USES NON-HAZARDOUS INKS THAT DON'T EMIT ANY VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. ForRent's Online Graphic order-tracking system has saved over 900 REAMS OF PAPER AND 56 TREES SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN 201o, 7 City Initiatives (8] Transportation (8) In 2012, Seattle designed a new climate action plan in an effort to steer the city closer to its ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. In 2007, Seattle implemented its Bicycle Master Plan (BMP), with the goal of tripling the amount of bicycling between 2007 and 2017 while reducing the rate of bicycle collisions by one third. In anticipation of the environmental effects of climate change, Seattle's city government is modifying Since 2007 the Seattle Department of Transportation(SDOT) has installed ROADS, BUILDINGS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, WATER SYSTEMS, AND IMPROVING GENERAL ECOSYSTEM HEALTH. 129 MILES OF ON-STREET 98 MILES OF BICYCLE WAYFINDING SIGNS, BICYCLE FACILITIES, AND 2,230 BICYCLE PARKING SPACES. The BMP was changed in 2012 to include: updating the city's bicycle network map to include areas it hadn't previously; develop a more intricate and efficient system to determine which areas are in the greatest need of bicycling facilities; and update bicycle manufacturing standards. ECO Seattle has also developed and implemented the Pedestrian Master Plan, which aims to increase the overall walkability, livability, and health of the city. 3 PORTLAND, OREGON Portland has consistently been ranked as one of the greenest cities in the United States, most recently by Corporate Knights Magazine of Canada in June, 2012. (9) Energylt0] City Initiatives (10] All city-owned diesel vehicles have been powered by The BPS works with other city bureaus and 20% governments to ensure that city watershed and other environmental BIODIESEL FUEL BLEND SINCE 2004. goals are met. In 2007, all city-owned diesel-powered equipment began running on 50% OR 20% BLENDS OF BIODIESEL DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. Portland's Green Building and Development Program has been working for over a decade to advance healthy building practices. Portland was the first city in America to adopt a local renewable fuel standard (RFS), which mandates all diesel fuel in Portland THE CITY HELD ITS TWELFTH must be sold with a blend of at least ANNUAL BUILD IT GREEN! HOME TOUR AND INFORMATION FAIR IN 5% BIODIESEL AND ALL 2012, WHERE VISITORS ARE INVITED GASOLINE MUST BE TO TOUR GREEN REMODELS AND SOLD WITH A BLEND OF AT LEAST 10% ETHANOL. ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS NEW HOMES AROUND THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA. The tour exposes visitors to accessory dwelling units, solar panels, ecoroofs, rainwater harvesting, natural landscaping, and much more. All residential The city of Portland garbage and recycling haulers in Portland must use has offered two separate grant programs to stimulate biofuel availability. biodiesel fuel for operation as of 2007. The city has implemented Solarize Portland, a solar panel volume-purchasing program, as well as community solar plans which allow buildings or entire neighborhoods to share each others' solar energy. DI waste 10] Businesses (3] The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) plans to reduce waste and raise the recycling rate NEW SEASONS MARKET DELIVERS FRESH, ORGANIC FOOD all over the Portland area with 75% BY 2015. an eye toward environmental responsibility. 1) Portland offers services BONNEVILLE to the numerous festivals, street fairs, and community events to aid in responsible ber ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATION Bonneville Environmental Foundation waste removal. (BEF) is a nonprofit center located in Portland that offers market-based solutions to help their fellow businesses go green. BEF invests their net profits directly into initiatives aimed at expanding the sustainability industry. 12) Neil Kelly Company offers general residential remodeling and new construction consulting in Portland. THEY FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE GREEN ENERGY IN ALL OF THEIR REMODELING PRACTICES. [13] UU UU UU UU UU UU UU UU UU UU SHomes.com ForRent.com NATION'S LEADING APARTMENT RESOURCE SOURCES: (1): http://www.explorechicago.org/ (2):http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/d/richardm_daley/index.html (3): http:www.organicconsumers.org (4): http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-greenest-cities/7 (5): http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/04/20/america-s-greenest-cities-2012-from-n ew-york-to-san-francisco.html#slide_21 (6): http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/20/10226909-could-this-30-million-green-tow er-be-the-future-of-world-cities?lite (7): http://blog.forrent.com/property-managers-owners/for-rent-media-solutions-goes-green (8): http://www.seattle gov/transportation/bikemaster.htm (9): http://www.corporateknights.com/report/2012-greenest-cities-america/top-30-cities (10): http://www.portlandoregon.gov/ (11]: http://www.newseasonsmarket.com/ (12): http://www.b-e-f.org/ (13): http://www.neilkelly.com/about-us/