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Green Eugene & Sustainability
A significant part of Eugene, Cascades & Coast's "green appeal" is inspired by nature - the clean rivers, mountains, ocean and the land - with nature-based experiences cherished by residents and visitors alike - cycling, hiking, fishing, birding, sightseeing and photography along with the bounty of Willamette Valley's fertile land. Eugene has even been dubbed "The Emerald City" because of its lush green landscape.
Eugene's prominence as Track Town, USA also highlights its vaulted pedestrian and bicycling-friendly status.
Natural food stores, farmers' markets and resale and recycling businesses thrive in Eugene, supported by a community active since the 1960s. The City of Eugene has an established Green Building Program encouraging widespread green design. Sustainability is absolutely one of Eugene's core values.
Eco-tourism is a popular draw for this Northwest community. There are many eco-inspirational activities inviting visitors to get "up close and personal" with nature. From overnights on organic farms, to tours of innovative eco-friendly companies, to the novel sport of old-growth tree-climbing, this region's commitment to the environment is integrated as well as edgy.
Eugene's Green Track Record & Recognition
- 2012 Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
Eugene: Gold Level "Walk Friendly Community" - 2012 Successful Meetings Magazine, "Top 10 U.S. Green Meetings Cities."
Eugene: #5 based on Mother Nature Network's report - 2011 Mother Nature Network, " Top Ten Green U.S. Cities"
Eugene: #5 - 2011 Bicycling Magazine Top 21 Cities for Bicycling.
Eugene: #5 - 2010 Entrepreneur Magazine "Top Towns for Green Scenes: Where Capitalism meets eco-consciousness"
Eugene: #1 - 2009 Top 10 Greenest Colleges in the US
University of Oregon - 2008 U.S. Olympic Committee Award for Sport and the Environment
Eugene 08 Local Organizing Committee and the Oregon Track Club - 2008 Runner's World's Top 10 Greenest Races in North America
Eugene Marathon - 2008 Popular Science magazine America's 50 Greenest Cities
Eugene: #5 as the leader in electricity. (Eugene boasts Oregon's largest customer-owned utility (EWEB) and utilizes a significant percentage of renewable energy sources like wind, methane bio-gas and solar.) - 2008 Country Home Magazine Best Green Cities.
Eugene - Springfield: #6 - 2008 Transportation and Development Policy Honorable mention for Sustainable Transport
Lane Transit District's (LTD) Emerald Express (EmX), a hybrid public transit system. (LTD's focus on green transportation includes bike-friendly buses, park n' ride lots and the promotion of ride shares.) - 2006 National Geographic's Green Guide
Eugene: #1 (out of 251 metropolitan areas, based on the city's environmental initiatives, including recycling, green-building design, electricity use and production, water quality and transportation. Green Guide used information gathered from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Green Building Council and individual cities to determine its rankings. Eugene edged out previous environmental favorites such as Berkley, Portland, Austin and Denver.) - The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) has won numerous environmental awards for water purity, best tasting water, tree-friendly practices and energy efficiency.
- The University of Oregon promotes a sustainability program throughout its campus. Lane Community College also has a sustainability office.
