Nearly every human activity has an impact on our environment. Some are so disruptive to Earth’s fragile ecosystems that our planet may eventually lose the ability to support human life.
Eco-Friendly Cities Offers the Promise of Sustainable Growth
Rapid increases in population and development damage the environment. In these areas deforestation, pollution, and over consumption of scare resources are very common.
Awareness about our impact on the environment, and the potential consequences, is growing. The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities(GPSC) is working with other organizations to find eco-friendly solutions that reduce the impact of development and population growth. According to the GPSC, over half of the world’s population currently lives in cities. It is here that two-thirds of the planet’s energy is consumed, and 70% of the planet’s greenhouse gases are produced.
The Number of Eco-Friendly Cities is Growing
Many cities are adopting policies to reduce their impact. Energy production in Copenhagen is expected to be carbon neutral by 2025. Amsterdam is already very carbon friendly because so many of its citizens ride bicycles or walk to get around.
Vancouver relies on hydropower for much of its energy production, and is known for its many public green spaces. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City use mass public transportation and green building initiatives to reduce emissions and energy consumption.
While many of us move to be closer to our families or work, a growing number of folks are choosing to move to eco-friendly cities in order to reduce their carbon footprint. Moving to a new location is expensive, and creates additional waste that harms the environment.
North American moving companies can help individuals save money and energy when they move. The following ideas can decrease the impact and cost of your move.
Pay Attention to Packaging
Instead of buying plastic totes to pack your belongings in, ask your moving company if they offer packing materials made from recyclables and biodegradable materials. (Image source:)
Renting or borrowing boxes made from recycled cardboard and newsprint eliminates the hassle of driving around to gather materials, this saves you time, gas, and money while reducing your impact on the environment.
Use starch based, biodegradable packing peanuts, that degrade in water, rather than plastic polystyrene pellets or bubble wrap to protect your most fragile items for further savings. (Image source:)
Choose Environmentally Friendly Housing
It takes more than moving to an eco-friendly city and using recycled packaging to save money and energy on your next move. The very housing that you choose to live in can also have a dramatic effect on both your finances and the environment.
Before you rent or buy your next home, look for environmentally friendly features that offer long term savings. For example, an energy saving home design reduces your overall energy consumption, helping you to save money while protecting the environment. House plans that utilize berms in their design require less energy to maintain a consistent temperature inside. This feature offers greater protection from severe weather when compared with more traditional home construction.
Install energy saving appliances and lights and use programmable climate control to further reduce your energy consumption and save additional money. Rather than relying on electricity from a local utility, install an alternative energy source, such as a wind turbine or solar energy panels to save even more over the long term.
Go Local to Go Green
Other eco-friendly tips to save money when you move include looking for ways to incorporate more natural sources of light in your home and growing some of your own food by planting a backyard garden. While these are great ideas, not everyone has space for their own garden.
An additional money saving advantage to settling down in communities that take green living seriously is that they are likely to support local efforts at organic farming. Buying your food from co-ops that produce vegetables in community gardens on rooftops or nearby farmland, reduces the travel time to bring your food from the fields to the store to your table.
Local food sources are often cheaper, and feature improved freshness and quality. Food that is locally produced reducing the amount of fuel that farmers need to transport their crops to the market, offering additional savings in money and energy.
What are your favorite eco-friendly ways to save money and energy when moving?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.