Cities That Paint Their Town Green

July 26, 2013- Some cities are better than others when it comes to passing green initiatives. Here are 10 towns that, according to Nerdwallet.com, work overtime to be clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

They’ve passed green initiatives related to waste management, forest restoration, natural resource protection, public transportation and alternative energy projects. The result is not just a positive impact on the environment, but on the budget.

1. Rochester, N.Y. -- Since 2005, the Forestry team has been dedicated to making Rochester a “City in a Forest” by maintaining nearly 70,000 trees.

2. Reno, Nevada -- The city has wind and solar installations that reduce energy costs and pollution and have saved it more than $1 million annually since 2011.

3. Kirkland, Washington -- The Green Kirkland Partnership aims to preserve the natural beauty of Kirkland with a 20-year forest restoration program.

4. Chandler, Arizona -- Green initiatives are divided into these groups: home, business, community and city. Chandler encourages businesses to design with conservation and sustainability in mind.

5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- Green plans include grants for energy efficiency improvements for local businesses and city departments through solar energy, lighting retrofits and energy-efficient equipment.

6. Lansing, Michigan -- The Live Green Lansing plan has four main targets for improvement: energy consumption, transportation, education and waste management.

7. Scottsdale, Arizona -- The city takes pride in protecting natural areas like the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and it has hundreds of acres of developed open space. Residents can utilize shared-use paths, unpaved trails and more than 100 miles of bike routes.

8. Williamsburg, Virginia -- Williamsburg’s Green Team has implemented programs to protect the natural environment, improve the environment and teach residents about sustainability. The Heritage Tree Program preserves trees.

9. Columbus, Ohio -- The Green Buildings strategy includes finding abandoned or contaminated facilities and marking them for renovation, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

10. Atlanta, Georgia -- Current projects run the gamut from increased park space to expanded public transportation. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is working to improve current park facilities, green spaces and bike trails. 

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