From Austin to Zurich: 6 eco-friendly Blueground cities

What makes a city eco-friendly? These are the seven characteristics we believe play a part: 

Efficient public transportation. Renewable energy. Green spaces. Recycling and waste management. Energy-efficient buildings. Water conservation. Sustainable food systems. 

Keeping those qualities in mind, here are six eco-conscious cities from around the world. In any of them, you can stay in a fully furnished Blueground apartment. 

Austin

It’s no surprise that Architectural Digest ranked Austin as the greenest city in America. Major factors included “the percentage of the city’s land area that is parkland, the number of miles of bike lanes, the number of farmers markets, and the number of electric car plug-ins.” 

Many of the buildings in Texas’ capital are eco-friendly as well. Austin Energy listed Austin as one of the 10 greenest cities in America, sharing that “The city of Austin was the first large municipal government in the US to power all city-owned facilities with 100% renewable energy.”

Singapore

Nicknamed the “Garden City,” Singapore has built its reputation on being green. That’s because this Asian country boasts numerous parks, trees, and green spaces. 

Speaking about Singapore’s sustainability, Masagos Zulkifli, former Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said that the island nation has “nearly 50 percent green cover.” He added that “Singapore is among the 20 most carbon-efficient countries, while natural gas generates 95 percent of its electricity.”

No wonder why Singapore is recognized as one of Asia’s most sustainable cities! 

Vienna

Balkan Green Energy News ranked Vienna as one of the greenest cities in the world. Their rankings take into account “air pollution, water consumption, walkability, and the availability of recycling and composting facilities.”

They further explained that Vienna gets “30% of its energy demand from renewable energy sources.” And the infrastructure makes getting around the city simple, affordable, and eco-conscious for all.“Nearly half of the inhabitants of Austria’s capital have an annual public transportation pass.”

Love fresh food? That’s another reason why Vienna makes the list, thanks to its numerous farmers markets. 

Seattle

Did you know that the lush forests near Seattle led to it being called the “Emerald City?” Culture Trip explains how the city’s past actions led to seven sustainability wins. “With parks, gardens, and arboretums, Seattle has valued green spaces within the city since the early 1900s. In fact, the city is ranked number seven in the world for canopy cover.” 

Weather plays an important part in energy usage, too. And Seattle has its location to thank for a smaller carbon footprint. The same article notes that the city’s “moderate weather means less use of heating and cooling. Most households in the greater Seattle area do not even have air conditioning; there’s rarely the need for it.”

Living in a fully furnished Seattle apartment means never being far from parks. Honestly, nearly all of Seattle’s residents live only a short walk away from a green space.

Copenhagen

It’s commonplace today to see people swimming in the water around Copenhagen, but that wasn’t always the case. There’s a lot to learn from Copenhagen’s zero carbon plan, details SPUR. “One of the city’s most successful sustainability investments was in cleaning up its waterfront. To clean up the polluted harbor, the city made a $440 million investment to redesign its wastewater system so that the overflow drains into reservoir systems instead of the harbor.”

Transportation here is green, too. Copenhagen boasts 500 kilometers of excellent bicycle paths and an easy-to-use bike-loan program. That’s why we highlighted it in our list of most bike-friendly cities. 

Zurich

Everything in this Swiss city is picture-perfect, including modern apartments in Zurich. However, there are many subtle details that help make it such a wonderful place to live for a month, a year, or longer. 

That includes clean streets in Zurich. You might not immediately notice something like this, but it impacts how you actually perceive the city. Plastic Expert claims that “the amount of total waste recycled in Zurich is about 34% (the UK is half that, at 17%).”

Meanwhile, The Solar Impulse Foundation shared that Switzerland itself is near the top globally for cities with efficient recycling programs. 

Blueground goes green

When you live in one of our fully furnished apartments, we try to help you maintain eco-conscious habits and build new ones. Staying with us soon? Learn more about how Blueground and our guests promote sustainability.