“Sustainability” is undeniably among the most prevalent buzzwords in commercial real estate, and when it comes to building a greener future, Chicago is a leading city in the U.S.
With Earth Day just around the corner on April 22, LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on five sustainability categories, including the number of zero-energy buildings, alternative fuel stations and greenhouse-gas emissions, among other metrics. And overall? Chicago ranked No. 13.
Chicago’s Rank in Some Key Metrics
- Number of Incentives and Policies Supporting Renewables and Energy Efficiency: 17th
- Number of Zero-Energy Buildings: 34th
- Thrift Shopper-Friendliness: 10th
- Transit Score: 7th
- Number of Green Restaurants: 4th
City buildings and the Chicago Transit Authority have resolved to implement 100% renewable energy within the next 20 years, based on the report, and Chicago also grows more than five million square feet of green-roof coverage.
As for No. 1 on LawnStarter’s list, San Francisco, California, claimed the spot as the most sustainable city in the U.S. A bit surprising, considering its density, but it does make sense. In 2007, San Francisco became the first American city to ban plastic bags and has since banned the sale of plastic bottles on city-owned property. According to the 2021 San Francisco Climate Action Plan, the goal is to have net-zero emissions by 2040, which, on a smaller scale, is a goal shared by many commercial real estate firms around Chicago.
