Wave Power Hinged cylinders anchored in the seafloor are pushed by waves, turning onshore turbines that create electricity (Orkney, Scotland) Underwater Turbines Turbines seated on the seafloor or estuary bed are spun by daily tides, generating electricity (New York City) Storm-Surge Gates Open gates in rivers, estuaries and canals close when storm surges are expected, to protect low-lying and subterranean infrastructure (Rotterdam; London) Smart Parking Digital parking meters tell mobile-phone and navigation apps when a space opens up, reducing traffic caused by drivers trolling for spaces (San Francisco) Congestion Pricing Charging drivers higher rates to drive in busy neighborhoods eases traffic (Stockholm; Singapore) Solar Hot Water Rooftop tanks, heated by the sun, provide domestic hot water instead of furnaces (Rizhao, China) Underground Parking Subterranean garages near commuter destinations eliminate the need for cars to surface (Paris) Underground Transportation Commuter trains, subways and primary roads run underground in massive tunnels, freeing the ground level for easy, clean bike and pedestrian traffic (Portland, Ore.) Solar Films Photovoltaic sheets on south-facing building facades generate electricity (Berlin) Bike Racks and Lanes Ample bike lanes and racks encourage more people to ride instead of drive; they also promote fitness (Minneapolis) Solar Power Panels generate electricity instead of power plants and also shade rooftops to lower a building’s cooling needs (Redlands, Calif.) Satellite Irrigation Satellite control of park and lawn irrigation systems cuts water consumption and pumping power (Los Angeles) High-Efficiency Windows Superinsulated windows quadruple the thermal performance of double panes and can be made from the glass in existing windows (Empire State Building, New York City) Three-Bin Recycling Requiring businesses and homes to separate trash, recyclables and compost spares landfills; collection charges drop as trash drops (San Francisco) Carbon-Sequestering Concrete Construction material made locally with carbon dioxide that is exhaled by power plants could reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Under development) Low-Flow Appliances Water-saving toilets and showerheads installed in buildings save millions of gallons annually (Austin, Tex.) Hybrid Taxis Large portions of taxi fleets converted to hybrid vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (San Francisco; New York City) Vertical Farms Food grown indoors could reduce fertilizer and freshwater use, shorten transport and recycle gray water otherwise dumped by treatment plants (Under development) Storm-Water Pricing Taxing property owners on the volume of storm water that runs off their property promotes retrofits that reduce wastewater volume at treatment plants (Philadelphia) Green Roofs Rooftop vegetation insulates buildings against heat and cold and absorbs storm water (Chicago) Underground Utilities Tunnels dedicated to carrying electricity, water, cable television and broadband Internet minimize damage from storms and make repairs easier (London) LEED Neighborhood Residential and commercial construction done across a city region to the highest green, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), standards saves energy, materials and emissions (Rockville, Md.) White Rooftops Rooftops painted white reflect heat, lowering a building’s cooling cost and a city’s heat buildup (Washington, D.C.) Sewage-sludge Incineration Solid waste extracted from sewage at treatment plants is burned to make electricity (Nashville, Tenn.; Buffalo, N.Y.)
Underwater Turbines Turbines seated on the seafloor or estuary bed are spun by daily tides, generating electricity (New York City)
Storm-Surge Gates Open gates in rivers, estuaries and canals close when storm surges are expected, to protect low-lying and subterranean infrastructure (Rotterdam; London)
Smart Parking Digital parking meters tell mobile-phone and navigation apps when a space opens up, reducing traffic caused by drivers trolling for spaces (San Francisco)
Congestion Pricing Charging drivers higher rates to drive in busy neighborhoods eases traffic (Stockholm; Singapore)
Solar Hot Water Rooftop tanks, heated by the sun, provide domestic hot water instead of furnaces (Rizhao, China)
Underground Parking Subterranean garages near commuter destinations eliminate the need for cars to surface (Paris)
Underground Transportation Commuter trains, subways and primary roads run underground in massive tunnels, freeing the ground level for easy, clean bike and pedestrian traffic (Portland, Ore.)
Solar Films Photovoltaic sheets on south-facing building facades generate electricity (Berlin)
Bike Racks and Lanes Ample bike lanes and racks encourage more people to ride instead of drive; they also promote fitness (Minneapolis)
Solar Power Panels generate electricity instead of power plants and also shade rooftops to lower a building’s cooling needs (Redlands, Calif.)
Satellite Irrigation Satellite control of park and lawn irrigation systems cuts water consumption and pumping power (Los Angeles)
High-Efficiency Windows Superinsulated windows quadruple the thermal performance of double panes and can be made from the glass in existing windows (Empire State Building, New York City)
Three-Bin Recycling Requiring businesses and homes to separate trash, recyclables and compost spares landfills; collection charges drop as trash drops (San Francisco)
Carbon-Sequestering Concrete Construction material made locally with carbon dioxide that is exhaled by power plants could reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Under development)
Low-Flow Appliances Water-saving toilets and showerheads installed in buildings save millions of gallons annually (Austin, Tex.)
Hybrid Taxis Large portions of taxi fleets converted to hybrid vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (San Francisco; New York City)
Vertical Farms Food grown indoors could reduce fertilizer and freshwater use, shorten transport and recycle gray water otherwise dumped by treatment plants (Under development)
Storm-Water Pricing Taxing property owners on the volume of storm water that runs off their property promotes retrofits that reduce wastewater volume at treatment plants (Philadelphia)
Green Roofs Rooftop vegetation insulates buildings against heat and cold and absorbs storm water (Chicago)
Underground Utilities Tunnels dedicated to carrying electricity, water, cable television and broadband Internet minimize damage from storms and make repairs easier (London)
LEED Neighborhood Residential and commercial construction done across a city region to the highest green, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), standards saves energy, materials and emissions (Rockville, Md.)
White Rooftops Rooftops painted white reflect heat, lowering a building’s cooling cost and a city’s heat buildup (Washington, D.C.)
Sewage-sludge Incineration Solid waste extracted from sewage at treatment plants is burned to make electricity (Nashville, Tenn.; Buffalo, N.Y.)
