Paint the Town Green: Eco-Friendly Destinations

If you’re going the extra mile for a green vacation, make sure your destination is as eco-friendly as your attitude. We’ve hand-picked a few of the greenest cities around the globe. By immersing yourself in these cities’ smart methods and innovative projects, you can adopt their local green practices and save money while you’re at it.

Portland, Oregon
There’s no two ways around it – Portland is all things alternative, organic and eco-friendly, which is why it’s one of our top picks for green cities. While you’re here, rent a hybrid car and park it at a solar-powered parking meter – or even better (and cheaper) rent a bike instead. Eating at one of the sustainable organic restaurants will award you with locally-grown fare, sans the added cost of shipping, packaging and preservatives. Stroll around the city after dinner and take note of the architecture that’s part of the green building technology from the Green Investment Fund.

Freiburg, Germany
This city was rebuilt on environmental principles after its destruction in World War II. The entire infrastructure is cleverly designed with plenty of car-free streets and green concepts in mind. Check out the engine-less section of town, Vauban, and its many solar roofs. There’s even an entire solar village that is completely built to sustainable standards. The Heliotrop House is the star of the show – a Rolf Disch masterpiece that rotates according to the sun, season and temperature in order to maximise environmental efficiency.

Austin, Texas
Southern tradition takes the back seat in this environmentally progressive town. Austin is one of the highest ranked eco-friendly cities in North America, and is working to kick its fossil-fuel habit by implementing energy-efficiency audits. Its award-winning City Hall building has a green roof with native plants and a number of solar panels, and City Hall Plaza hosts free local, live music each Friday. Or visit during Austin City Limits – a famous environmentally friendly music festival each summer.

Montreal, Quebec

Green Living:

The Danish island of Samso is completely self-sustaining and, in the last 10 years, has reduced its carbon footprint by 140 percent. By changing how they use energy at the community level, its residents live happily without harming the planet.

This hip French-infused metropolis knows how to roll green from the ground up. From its Bixi bike-sharing programme that offers 3,000 bikes in 300 different locations, to the Montreal Protocol that regulates emissions that damage the ozone layer, Montreal packs an eco punch on land and in the sky. Spend your day walking through the lavish botanical gardens and purchasing local goods from open air markets. By night, rest easy at one of many eco-chic boutique hotels.

Malmo, Sweden
Big ambitions make Malmo an eco-super star with which few cities can compete. The Swedish spot aims to convert to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020, and channels its goals through social, ecological, and economic sustainability programs. Building a more convenient and vastly connected public transportation system – including extensive walking paths and an intelligently designed network of cycling paths – is just one of its current projects.

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