London to Mumbai to New York City – All of these cities are known for their night life, economy, and infrastructure. Whether it’s the city or the suburbs, the framework for every big and small house are extreme sturdy and reliable and made with some of the best materials in the world. However, the beautification of each city comes at a big cost; Construction in general is responsible for 40% of the world’s energy usage and around 33% of greenhouse gas emissions. Now we can’t really reduce the number of accommodations we build for the ever-growing population, but we can make constraints when it comes to choosing the kind of food we eat or car we drive or the clothes we wear. I mean come on, there must be a way of making the world beautiful without sacrificing it.
United Kingdom
Homes with zero energy bills. You read it right! The largest independent energy company in the UK, Octopus Energy, has decided to partner up with a construction company to build homes in Essex with no energy bills. Around 153 carbon free homes have already been built that run on 24/7 clean energy supplies. From solar panels installed to air source heat pumps, by 2030, the company aims to build more than 10,000 bill free homes.
Denmark
The 2012 Cloudburst Plan, set into motion in the city of Copenhagen, was a step taken towards a sustainable environment. Due to the sudden climate changes, the city put this motion forth which took into consideration immense rainfalls and its impact on the infrastructure. The aim of this plan is to avoid flooding in a developed country due to global warming. From stormwater roads to green roads, the government of Denmark has ensured construction of new and reliable structures that can help detain water in small streets and drain it out safely into the sea. Due to the socio-economical limits of the country, the plan has a 20-year time frame for complete establishment.
Kenya
“A Key Investment in The Fight Against Poverty.” This developing country installed a geothermal power plant called Olkaria which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on hydropower and increase the development of geothermal energy by 51%. There are 4 powerplants that have been established till date that aim to reduce the countries dependence on imported oil and be a firm source of power. It is the governments way to fight poverty in the country while make the Earth a better place to live.
France
The Paris Climate Agreement drafted made the country the most eco-friendly nation in the world. This law instated that all new buildings that would be constructed in the commercial zones must have roofs that are partially covered with solar panels and plants. Moreover, the roads in Paris now have multiple biking lanes to make it a bike-friendly city. These several steps taken by the government ensures a reduction in climate change and pollution due to greenhouse gas emissions.
On the other hand, there are several countries that are still struggling in making their cities a better and environment-friendly place to live in. This could be due to their economic status and struggles in the world, but this hasn’t stopped their respective governments to take their shot/chance towards a better future
Liberia
From immense levels of deforestation to burning household waste, the country hasn’t been able to make its contribution towards a green environment. However, recently, an Environmental Law Organization has been established that is trying to help local communities make a difference for the environment.
With technology advancing rapidly almost each month, it is high time that these new developments are used to make every city eco-friendly. From managing air pollution to using fewer fossil fuels to building more reliable roads and structures. So before you go around switching apartments, do some research and think of what would be best for the environment and not just you.