renewable energy world austin tx
Several U.S. cities are noted for their progressive city governments and citizens in regard to environmental issues. Known as "green cities", not only initiate and implement policies that promote clean air and water, but often promote other programs and practices such as alternative energy systems and construction methods.
Austin, Texas consistently places in the various lists of the greenest cities in the U.S. and the world. Green Guide, affiliated with National Geographic, chose Austin as number 2 on its list of Top Green Cities in 2006. Criteria for its choices include air quality, electricity use and production, environmental perspective, environmental policy, green space, transport and water quality.
A commitment to solar energy and green building is what won Austin its place on the list of the Green Guide. The city offers some of the most generous discounts in the country for customers using solar energy. It also buys significant amounts of wind energy and wind farms in western Texas and plans to meet 20 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. Austin has also established standards for energy efficiency of your central business district and has progressive policies in place to preserve water quality, ensure proximity to public transport, and maintain a pedestrian-friendly urban design.
But not only the city government that promotes green urban living. Many of Austin's creative citizens are becoming known around the country and the world their initiative and success in creating local, community-based lifestyles that promote greener and healthier urban environment cleaner.
The Rhizome Collective was founded in 2000 as a center for community organizing and urban sustainability education. The collective took an old store with a parking asphalt and turned it into gardens, ponds and greenhouses that support for the tilapia, catfish, turkey, ducks and chickens. The hosts weekend workshops and seminars to teach people around the world without waiting for governments and businesses to go green, but can start to implement their own projects with little experience in engineering or science.
Austin has allowed a number of private individuals to use alternative methods of construction to build homes within the city limits, including straw bale construction. In 2001, there were about a dozen homes in the Austin area that were built from straw, including at least three within the city limits. In addition to these progressive methods of construction, the city has also enabled some people to recycle older buildings, such as warehouses and innovative luxury condos or commercial properties.
Another citizens' initiative that has helped draft the environmental quality of the area is the initiative Carshare. This company allows members to pick up a car for a day in various parts of the city. In this way, members can save money by not having to pay for private car (and therefore not having to pay for insurance, gasoline, maintenance and parking!). It also helps reduce the amount of air pollution in the city by reducing the amount of car traffic in the city.
Finally, common sense, an online store founded by well – known and respected Austin musician Chris Searles. Formerly a drummer for such notable artists as Alejandro Escovedo and Shawn Colvin, Searles founded Good Common sense in an effort to help consumers make the type of options that will help make the world a greener, safer place to live and work. His store offers products that are environmentally friendlier than many products consumers can find in regular stores and shops. Consumers can find home air conditioning products, dishes compostable, fuel enhancer devices, and all sorts of recycled products.
