It is clear that city dwelling is the future. According to the World Business Council, by the year 2050 more than 70% of the world’s population will live in metropolis area. Cities currently consume 80% of the world’s material and energy supplies. These statistics mean that cities have to become more sustainably-minded in the upcoming years. Here we will discuss some ways that cities can become more ecologically sustainable (green).
What Does Ecologically Sustainable Mean?
As the previous statistics have clearly outlined, there is a massive consumption of energy and resources being absorbed by cities. The future projections paint a bleak reality for the world if practices and processes that will support a future that can be sustained without the total destruction of our resource base and environment.
Eco-Friendly Building Materials
The wave of eco-friendly consciousness has birthed many green materials and processes that are designed to support a sustainable future. Nearly every aspect of building construction has been touched by some form of eco-friendly material implementation and process. From Pex pipes for plumbing systems to Flyash concrete exterior facing; there are dozens of applications designed for sustainable building.
Incorporate Smart Technologies
Smart technologies allow for a more interconnected infrastructure that is ideally suited for the modern-day city. Smart technologies also help make cities greener. Smart technology involves appliances, fixtures, and electronic equipment that is accessible to users via Wi-Fi and mobile technology. Incorporating this into a city’s infrastructure will improve the efficiency of that infrastructure and allow for improved and more responsive services.
Plan Properly
A city that is looking to become greener has to have an idealistic as well as a realistic vision for the future of the city. This means that all decisions made need to be sustainably considered. When dealing with issues on a government level, small things can add up to substantial expenses. Whether it is the overuse of paper as opposed to correspondence that can easily be made digitally, or the failure to turn off equipment and lights in the evening, there needs to be citywide green protocols put into place.
Secure Professional Support
Too often, cities fail to locate professionals that specialize in sustainability, or they find them too late in the process for them to be most effective. The city council should hire an energy broker to make sure the maximum energy savings are obtained. This individual will also be able to analyze and monitor the energy use around the city on an ongoing basis.
Conclusion
There is much ground that needs to be gained in the fight to make our world more sustainable. Since the cities of the world make up for so much of the population and energy consumption, it would seem that creating green cities would have a tremendous impact on the road to a sustainable future. Cities that take the lead on this front will not only be viable, but they will be attractive to the upcoming generation that has been raised as ecologically conscious individuals.
