Seattle
From Green Wiki
The "Emerald City" is green in more than just its name. Seattle has committed to meeting the Kyoto Protocol by reducing its emissions 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. To help achieve this goal, Mayor Greg Nickels (who actively pushes other cities to adopt the Kyoto Protocol as well) is urging Seattle's residents to give their cars "the summer off" in the summer of 2008. The city believes it can achieve its Kyoto goals if residents cut their driving by 1,000 miles annually.
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[edit] Incentives for not driving
Seattle attractions such as the Woodland Park Zoo, the Museum of Flight, the Burke Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Pacific Science Center all offer summer discounts for patrons who promise to drive their cars less.
Residents who pledge to drive less, agree to stop commuting alone, sell or park their car for a month, and those who already walk, bike, or use public transportation are eligible for drawings for cash and gift certificates.
[edit] Programs to reduce driving
In addition to the incentives listed above, Seattle also has programs to increase the number of bike lanes, close certain streets to vehicle traffic to make them better for walkers and bikers, and have proposals to expand streetcar routes into neighborhoods.
[edit] S.L.U.T.
Vulcan, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's private asset management company, have invested in the South Lake Union Trolley, or S.L.U.T., a 1.3 mile trolley route connecting South Lake Union, the waterfront park, the Denny Triangle, and the Downtown Retail Core/Westlake areas. S.L.U.T. has a projected ridership of 330,000 in its first year, and expects ridership to grow to over 1,000,000 riders.
[edit] Bottled Water
The city of Seattle no longer purchases bottled water for city facilities and events, saving $58,000, not to mention the carbon footprint of consuming bottled water.
[edit] A tree per person
Seattle has lost more than half of its trees due to growth and development since the 1970s. In 2006, Mayor Greg Nickels announced a program to plant a tree for every man, woman, and child in Seattle (649,000 trees).
