Why Is Portland Among the Best U.S. Green Cities?

Planing on relocating to the West Coast? If so, Portland Oregon ranks amount the top U.S. Green Cities in the United States.

No more a city that’s focused just on staying weird, Portland has developed into a city that’s become a destination for people who both respect the environment and are committed to doing their party to keeping Portland green for the years to come.

In this article, we will offer you data behind why the PDX area is one of the best Green Cities in the United state.s

Portland’s top-ranking metrics:

• Share of workers who commute by bike: 4.1% (ranking #1);
• Air quality index: 41 (ranking #3);
• Households with access to recycling in Oregon: 89.0% (ranking #3);
• Share of participants in the recycling program: 66.0% of the state residents (ranking #5);
• Share of green energy generated in Oregon: 60.0% (ranking #5).

As sustainability becomes increasingly vital, U.S. cities are stepping up their efforts to create greener environments. With this in mind, we at CoworkingCafe released a ranking of the greenest U.S. cities with at least 100,000 residents, evaluating them across 12 key sustainability metrics including green energy and buildings, public transportation and bike commute, recycling and EV charging stations, among others.

Here are the key points why Portland ranks among America’s greenest cities:

• Portland snatched third place among the most sustainable U.S. cities, with great scores among the metrics analyzed;
• Cycling is deeply embedded in Portland’s culture with 4.1% of commuters choosing to bike to work — the highest percentage nationwide;
• At the same time, the city’s transportation network was among the greenest in the country with 30% of its public transit options being eco-friendly;
• Portland also stands out for its 673 LEED-certified buildings, while 2 coworking spaces were found in such structures;
• Moreover, Portland’s access to green spaces is noteworthy, with 22 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents ensuring that locals had plenty of nature nearby.

Nationally, San Francisco, CA, takes the crown among the top green U.S. cities due to its high number of eco-friendly buildings and widespread adoption of green commuting alternatives. Washington, DC and Portland, OR, follow closely, rounding out the podium.

A True Environmentally Friendly City 

Portland, Oregon is often referred to as America’s number one environmentally friendly or ‘green’ city. Portland has everything: lively and attractive pedestrian-oriented neighbourhoods, 510 kilometres of cycle paths, efficient public transportation networks, the highest number of urban parks per capita in the US, and the country’s greatest concentration of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants.

Portland is definitely all about sustainable and low-impact living: half its power comes from renewable sources; a quarter of the workforce commutes by bike, carpool (so-called Flex Cars) or public transportation; its city planning minimises sprawl; 35 buildings are certified by the US Green Building Council; 67% of all waste is composted and treated locally; the recycling ethic is widespread; and over 200 green roofs cover buildings. Where do these forward-thinking initiatives and Portland’s quality of living so praised by the press come from?

Smart growth strategy

Portland is a pioneer when it comes to developing strategies for Smart Growth.

In the 1970s, while most American elected representatives were dreaming about shopping malls and promoting automobile-oriented development, Portland was already thinking green. Eco-conscious developments and strong land use planning control are largely the result of state land conservation policies adopted under Republican Governor Tom McCall.

In 1966, legislation known as the ‘Beach Bill’ granted the state government the power to keep control of Oregon’s beaches, thus protecting 480 waterfront kilometres from private development.

In 1971, the ‘Bottle Bill’ launched the nation’s first mandatory bottle-deposit law.

In 1974 the Harbor Drive freeway, which had divided the city in two parts, was closed and torn down, to be replaced with the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, thus opening up the waterfront to pedestrians.

In the late ‘60s, Governor McCall challenged every community in Oregon to establish no-build greenbelts to limit sprawl and concentrate new development around public transportation hubs. Portland’s urban growth boundary, adopted in 1979 and reviewable every 20 years, has made Portland the first compact city in the United States.

Since Tom McCall, politicians (mainly Democrats) and planners have remained true to green strategies and have continued to work on Portland’s Smart Growth strategy, favouring compact neighbourhoods with different types of homes, shops, workplaces, schools, pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly tree-lined streets, enhancing natural and cultural resources and promoting public health. Since 1970, the city’s population has increased by 60%, while between 1990 and 2008 its urbanised area grew by only 11% and CO₂ emissions decreased by 19%.

In this regard, Pearl district, a former warehouse and industrial area that is now internationally recognised as a model of responsible urban renewal, followed the line of Smart Growth strategy. Since the late ‘90s, new wooden and glass buildings, of which 30% are social housing, have been built in the gaps between the collection of former warehouses now converted into lofts, offices and shops. Home of the Tanner Spring Park, Pearl district is nowadays a mixed-use, twenty-four-hour residential neighbourhood that reflects the ‘20-minute neighbourhood’. Residents can access all kind of places and services by walking or biking within 20 minutes, a strategy that Portland wants to bring to all of its districts. Pearl district is excellent proof that a high quality of life rich in culture and diversity can arise from a wasteland.

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