With sustainability and climate crisis action becoming more and more important for the everyday citizen, NYC is a surprisingly inherently sustainable city in terms of its location.
The city’s transport system including subways, buses and 1,000-plus miles of bike lanes and routes makes it easy to get around without a car.
You can walk and bike almost anywhere in NYC and beautiful path walks, historical places and parks make it an enjoyable experience as well.
Looking at gastronomy, there are many farmers' markets and farm-to-table restaurants that help to ensure that residents and visitors eat fresh local food.
Asides from all that, NYC has adopted the OneNYC strategy with which the City has set goals that include:
- reducing NYC's greenhouse-gas emissions to 80 percent of 2005 levels by 2050;
- eliminating waste sent to landfills by 2030;
- making sure that all New Yorkers have access to green spaces.
All this to not only ensure the quality of life for NYC residents and visitors but also to contribute to reducing the climate crisis which is the top major threat in the world at the moment.
Currently, NYC is home to a lot of sustainable projects and initiatives. In this article, we highlight a few that you might not know about or at least haven't heard about its sustainability.
The High Tide
The High Tide is a 1.45-mile-long abandoned elevated rail line that was transformed in 2009 into this green oasis on the west side of Manhattan.
What you probably didn't know is that The High Tide can be called a sustainable project because this green space acts as a habitat for birds and insects.
The place is naturally cooling because the shade trees create and creates more oxygen which cleans the air of the city.
You can enter at Gansevoort Street, 23rd Street, or 30th Street only and it's open from 7am to 9pm on weekdays.
Barclays Center green roof
Barclays Center is home to sporting events and concerts. But did you notice that the building has a green roof?
Its 3 acres green roof on top of the building is grown with sedum, flowers in the summertime which not only creates a noise-dampening effect but also has some environmental benefits.
It provides insulation which in exchange reduces the building's energy use and creates a smaller ecological footprint. Plus, a green roof absorbs stormwater and doesn't create such a huge overwhelm of storm drains.
Address: 620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217.
Brooklyn Navy Yard
Brooklyn Navy Yard is a shipyard, as well as an industrial complex located in northwest Brooklyn. The Navy Yard on the East River in Wallabout Bay has around 3,000 solar panels that generate 1.1 kilowatts of electricity.
This is probably one of the most sustainably run locations in the whole city. Plus, there is a Rooftop Reeds which has a 14,8000 square foot vineyard on top. It helps to absorb the rainwater and also cools the roof in the summertime.
Address: 299 Sands St Building 275 Suite 202, Brooklyn.
What is your favorite green location in NYC? Let us know in the comments below.
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