Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town, Japan
Located 50 km west of Japan’s capital city Tokyo, Fujisawa is revolutionary in its sustainability and community practices. Made up of 1000 households the first phase of this smart town opened on November 27, 2014 and showcased just how eco-minded a population could be. Funded and built by the technology corporation Panasonic every house in Fujisawa features solar panels, Panasonic ECO-CUTE heat pump driven water system, and the world’s first domestic sized ENE-FARM household fuel-cell generators (responsible for hot water and electricity production).
Houses in Fujisawa are connected to a smart grid system, connecting every building to a central real-time energy network that aids in reducing energy usage and emissions. The quaint and quiet streets are secured with a fenceless security system that encourages citizens to socialize outside and reduce anti-social behavior in safety. Every inhabitant has cheap and easy access to eco-friendly transportation options, including bikes and electric cars. At the center of this eco-town is a community center and home to the town’s management company that provides energy, security, mobility, healthcare, and community services for the residents at Fujisawa.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Once the global leader in leaving a massive carbon footprint the city of Dubai has gone from the World Wildlife Fund’s 2006 country with the largest carbon footprint per capita to an innovative and eco-minded city of the future. By 2050 the city hopes to get 75% of its energy from clean sources and has already made strides to promote a public metro system (in a city known for its love of luxury cars no less). In the desert surrounding the city there is a solar farm that generates clean energy via the sun utilizing the 300 days of unobstructed sunshine the Arab desert enjoys per year.
Along the outskirts of Dubai is a crown jewel of eco-communities. A five million square foot complex, 18 miles outside of Dubai city limits, and consisting of 500 homes, parks, retailers, offices, and more the so coined Sustainable City is almost completely full and already making the effort exuded to build it, worth it. The City is completely car free,
every house recycles its water and waste, and is powered by solar panels with strategically placed windows to keep direct sun out of the living spaces. This keeps interiors cool, lessening the amount of air conditioning needed to cut through the heat of a desert that can top 122 F. With 11 biome green houses the complex even grows all of its own produce in an area of the earth that has such a small amount of arable land that it imports 80% of its produce.
Sonderborg, Denmark
Not all towns that are eco-friendly or minded need to be built that way, some can morph into eco Shangri La by the will power of the citizens. Project Zero in Sonderborg is a prime example. A town of 76,000 residents, Sonderborg aims to be carbon neutral by 2029 and has already cut its emissions by 35%. This is done mainly by adding an increased number of electric car charging station throughout the city and by implementing education programs at schools that help citizens learn greener options and the impact humans have on the environment.
Bhutan
In the minds of many concerned for the environment, the mentality held by the small
Himalayan country, nestled between India and China, of Bhutan is the goal the entire world should strive to reach. They are the global leader of environmental, sustainability development. Many in and outside of the country contribute this to the way the country is chiefly concerned, not with GNP, but with GNH or Gross National Happiness. It is written into the constitution that no less than 60% of the land must remain forest (currently it’s sitting at 75%). In 2009 when Bhutan vowed to be carbon neutral they were actually carbon negative and remain so.
The only carbon negative country in the world, Bhutan’s forests absorb three times the amount of CO2 than the entire country produces. Featuring many rivers Bhutan is able to run exclusively on hydroelectric power and even sells the excess to India. As such rural farmers receive free electric to cut out the need to burn wood for warmth and cooking. Looking to the future, Bhutan aims to increase its eco-tourism business but only within certain limits so to not detract from the reason behind their conservation efforts. Preserving their traditions and their land.
Burlington, Vermont
The first city to run on 100% renewable energy, Burlington boasts hydro, solar, wind, and biomass energy. All waste water is recycled and the Moran Plant, a former coal powered factory, is being converted into a net-zero cultural art and community center.
In the 1990s the city realized that there were issues with the rapid expansion it was under and strived to fix them by including the citizens in the process. They aim to weave together the “4 E’s”: equity, economics, education, and environment. Under their Legacy Action Project Plan they follow six goals:
- To maintain the cities regional influence
- To provide job opportunities and affordable housing
- To improve the quality of life in all its neighborhoods
- Increase public participation with city decision making processes
- Provide a high quality of education
- To preserve the environmental health of their surroundings
In 1993 the city finished constructing the Intervale Community Farm that helps provide the surrounding region with organic produce. The state of Vermont is underway of enacting a mandatory composting law which will further lower the emissions and waste produced by Burlington.
Eco-Minded 