Many countries around the world have been working on harnessing clean, green energy as opposed to burning fossil fuels, and digging up the countryside to harvest natural gasses and oils. If you’re interested in experiencing the difference of living in a clean city, check out this list of places you can travel to and enjoy a healthier, eco-friendly vacation.
- Freiburg, Germany
Giving its citizens the chance to become stakeholders in the green future, Freiburg has, since the mid-1980s, adopted a green policy. They’ve created a network of trams and most citizens use bicycles to get around. They’ve boycotted plans to build a nuclear power station in a neighbouring state, and they are constantly adding solar panels to roofs. These solar panels tend to be collectors only, which are then fed into the regional power grid. The majority of the houses built here nowadays are known as ‘passive houses’, which means no additional methods of heating or cooling (like air-conditioners) are used within them. Instead, the houses keep the interior temperature at a comfortable homeostatic level, no matter the weather.
Main Attraction: Take a trip to an abenteuerbaustelle, which is literally an outdoor adventure kindergarten for children aged 2-3, and 4-6. The little ones enrolled here play outdoors for 3.5 hours each day, come rain, shine, or even snow!
- Vancouver, Canada
The city of Vancouver is one of the shining examples of a massive city using renewable energy sources. Here, you’ll find an ambitious plan in progress with which they hope to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. Currently, the city uses hydroelectric sources to create 90% of its power. They also have solar-powered compacting trashcans on street corners that can hold five times the amount of trash a normal waste bin can. Currently they’ve reduced their greenhouse emissions by 25% in comparison to their 1995 score, and are working in collaboration with residents and local businesses (of which 1,300 have greened-up their workplaces).
Sight to see: The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Center is an example of a living building – meaning it is one which has not impacted its environment. It has a green roof, rainwater collection system, and solar panels to generate energy. There’s plenty within it to keep you occupied for several hours, and a tour of the grounds is great for photography lovers.
- Portland, United States of America
Being one of the first cities in America to embrace a greener way of life, Portland has taken many steps to create greener living for its citizens. They developed a waterpark by demolishing a six-lane highway in the 1970s, and started a recycling campaign at the same time. It has around 120km of biking, running, and hiking trails, and has 92,000 acres of green space in its city, with an additional 25 million acres of forests and farms. There are over 50 buildings which conform to standards of sustainability, majority of the denizens bicycle to work, share cars, and have solar-powered parking metres. They also employ clean energy methods such as wind, solar, and bio-mass power.
Outdoor Appreciation: Portland is known as the City of Roses, so a visit to the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park is a must. There are over 7,000 roses to be seen here, and June is generally the best month to visit.
What green cities have you visited?
Main image courtesy of Cacophony (Creative Commons)
