Whether it is much more green spaces or a trustworthy public transport scheme, there are lots of things that might be done to make sure that cities end up being more sustainable at this point in time.
One among the main characteristics of sustainable cities is the easiness of movement: individual cars are not an reliable way of travelling around an urban centre, considering the density of vehicles and the traffic and pollution that it can cause. Instead, a nice and dependable public transport system is one among the staples of sustainable urban living: not only will it be faster, as more individuals will be able to travel utilising the same vehicle (and subsequently lowering the amount of cars on the road), but it will have amazing environmental results, as public transport is starting to employ more and more electric powered vehicles. Figures like Heidi Alexander work with major metropolitan transportation networks, and are certainly aware of all the perks that each certain means of travel has.
One of the primary goals of sustainable living practices is often to apply less energy, or to apply the same range of energy much more efficiently: this is both useful for the planet, as less emissions will be created, and for the person, as it will help saving on things like utility bills. A good thing that can be implemented is sustainable architecture: by developing homes with energy-saving in mind, this purpose is easily attained, with real estate figures like Frank Zweegers contemplating this approach to urban sustainability. Constructing houses with good insulation will indicate that less heating will be needed in winter, as the home will stay effectively warmer, and vice versa in summer. In place of using artificial light, having major windows that are cleverly oriented will provide lots of natural light, which makes the living experience a lot more pleasant.
If you look at any proposals for brand new urban projects, one thing that you will hopefully see in a lot of cases is the presence of green areas. Something as simple as having trees on the side of a street has been proven to assist maintain a pleasant temperature during hotter days, and as we are potentially all aware, trees help make the air we breathe cleaner. These are just a couple of the numerous reasons why so many smart city ideas involve more plants. Whilst parks will usually be popular, a couple of sustainable ideas for the future have put in place small gardens in residential structures, for instance on rooftops: this would allow individuals who live in flats to access some personal green areas, and even grow some fresh vegetables or herbs. There have even been vertical implementations of gardens, as seen with developers like Lars Huber. Having plants that help bee pollination, such as lavender, is also a prominent idea that can help the planet.