Cleveland has found another way to reinvent itself. It has recently pulled itself up the ladder to 16th on list of greenest cities by SustainLane. When people think of green, they think of Portland, Oregon and Chicago, Illinois. Rarely does one think Cleveland, Ohio. However, Cleveland is quickly moving up the ranks. With a high quality public transit system that has high ridership numbers and low traffic congestion, Cleveland is a great place to get around. With the adding of Steelyard Commons, there is now a major shopping area within the city limits. Cleveland has a wind turbine and solar panels at its stadium/ Science Center area. While these may not generate much of what the city needs, it has provided the figures needed to propel Cleveland to join the effort for a Lake Erie wind farm. The city has taken big steps forward, like hiring sustainability manager Andrew Watterson and signing the US Mayors’ Climate Change Agreement.
Moreover, attitudes of Cleveland’s residents and business owners are changing. New groups are springing up all the time. Groups like Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, Green City Blue Lake, and the Cleveland Green Building Coalition promote green ideas. Green Energy Ohio promotes renewable energy sources. Consumers now have access to green energy programs through integrys.
My favorite new program is the Green Cottage program. The Cuyahoga Community Land Trust is a non-profit entity that is building private homes in the EcoVillage neighborhood of Cleveland’s west side. The cool thing about this project is that it strives to make green homes affordable and accessable. Using green building practices to make these homes energy efficient, they are expected to cost less than $40 a month to heat. They will cost 30% less than comparable housing. The plan requires that no more than 35% of a family’s income will go to mortgage payments, so these homes shouldn’t be empty and foreclosed on in a few years. The homes will feature 2 and 3 bedrooms and will have wheelchair access ramps. And talk about connectivity! This neighborhood has a rapid transit station, bus stops, a recreation center and is very close to the lakefront, Gordon Square, and downtown. This just goes to show that Cleveland has a commitment to being a greener city for everyone-not just those with money to spare.
Tags: Cleveland neighborhoods, cuyahoga community land trust
[...] of 58th and Lorain, adjacent to the Eco Village Townhouses. Around the neighborhood will be the new Green Cottages being built by the Cuyahoga Community Land Trust. The entire site will be green and we are going [...]