My friend recently visited me in Nashville and was amazed at what a green city it is. Her observation made me reflect on the many things I take for granted here, that are, in fact, pretty cool benefits. Often, we don’t think of cities as being “green,” but there are many green benefits of living in a city that we can take advantage of. Below are just some of the “green” perks of city living.
5 Eco-Friendly Benefits Of Living In A City
Community gardening:
City dwellers can go green by taking advantage of the city’s community gardens. These areas allow people to get involved with gardening and composting in their neighborhoods. It is a great way to learn about how to garden without a big investment in tools and space.
Proximity
This in itself is a huge advantage of city living. Choosing an apartment close to work, school or shopping can cut down considerably on the carbon emissions from commuting. As my 8-year-old daughter told me the other night, “Let’s walk. It saves car energy and is healthier for us.”
Smaller spaces
Another green benefit of living in a city it that it generally entails smaller living spaces which use less energy. Smaller homes are more manageable when it comes to temperature adjustments and require less electrical use and maintenance. Another advantage of compact city living is that recycling is usually included in your taxes and/or made more accessible through curbside and on-site recycling collection programs.
Public transit
If your destination is not within walking distance, take advantage of your city’s public transportation options, if available. Another option is to ride a bike! Many cities offer bike share programs, such as B Cycle, allowing people to rent bikes at automated kiosks throughout the city.
Swap-ortunity
Another green benefit of city life is that you can take advantage of swapping goods instead of buying new goods. Since there are so many people living in close proximity, it is usually easy to find someone who has what you need or needs what you have. There are a number of websites and social networks that make it easy to swap, sell, or buy a used item close to home.
What green options do you take advantage of in your city? I’d love to hear about your favorite green benefits of living in a city in the comment section below or tag me @familyfocusblog.
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