Atlanta Seeks To Become Top 10 Green City In America

Going green on a large scale often requires a certain amount of political will power. This is occurring in Atlanta which seeks to become a top 10 green city in America. 

The green building movement has a host of proponents, not all of them from the same camp. Some like the idea because it encourages energy efficiency. Others prefer the environmental benefits. Some simply are interested in it as a marketing niche. Given these differing views, local green building movements often get bogged down because supporters can’t work together. 

This need not always be the case. One needs only look at New York City. If ever there was a place with consistently diverse political groups, it is the Big Apple. Despite this, a strong mayor, Bloomberg, has stepped into the leadership breach and turned the city into a green building leader. Yes, the ultimate concrete jungle city has gone green!

Another mayor is now taking up the call. Kasim Reed is the Mayor of Atlanta. He is setting forth an initiative to make Atlanta one of the top 10 cities in the United States for green building and preserved space. Why Atlanta? Well, it is a hub city that is growing like mad. With its expansion comes plenty of problems. Energy use is through the roof and water is always a problem in the parched South. Then there is urban sprawl. The city is simply packed with people and anyone who has tried to drive during rush hour can tell you about the joys of getting around. 

Can Atlanta and Mayor Reed pull it off? Yes. The single biggest factor when it comes to implementing green building practices in a city is a strong political will. Mayor Reed appears to be committed to the process. He envisions decrepit old railroad tracks and yards being turned into parks and trail. He sees a city that seems to have no theme becoming one that is a leader in the South on a host of energy and environmental issues. 

If I lived in Atlanta, he’d have my vote!