Cool City #4: Portland, Oregon
photo by DubbaG
Portland, Oregon is commonly placed #1 among the U.S.’s green cities. Why? Categories like “transportation,” “electricity,” “green policy” and “recycling efforts” usually separate the city from the competition. The City of Portland even has a “Green Building Program” to inspire, support and promote green buildings within the city limits. Popsci.com reports that “half its power comes from renewable sources, a quarter of the workforce commutes by bike, carpool or public transportation, and it has 35 buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.” I went on to Oregon.gov and found a 46 page document produced by the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development on how to make your business more environmentally friendly. I read most of it, and it has some rock-solid ideas in it. Lastly, Inhabitat.com said that Portland, Oregon is “consistently named the number-one city for bicyclists.” It’s always more expensive to be green, but the idea is that it’s better in the long run; and Portland gets that. They seem to be leading The United States of America in what is beginning to be called “The Green Rush.”
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