Building a Sustainable Akron
Becoming a sustainable community has become somewhat of a buzz word across the United States over the last few years, and Akron has been no different. The push has come as many neighborhoods across the city were already striving to make positive changes for a better future.
The definition of a sustainable community dictates that these cities have been purposely built to be both healthy and resilient. This applies to the environmental, economic and social issues faced by residents. In addition, these cities don�t work on single issues; instead, sustainable communities choose integrated answers which both address problems today and prevent them in the future. This means the city will become more sustainable with each generation.
But what is a sustainable community? It’s not as complicated as it may sound. In fact, Akron today is a much more sustainable community than the Akron that existed just a decade or two ago. Today, residents of the city use fewer natural resources and produce less greenhouse gases. Rivers and lakes have been cleaned up, and water pollution has been greatly decreased. Public parks and greenspaces can be found in almost every neighborhood.
There are nonprofit-sponsored neighborhood gardens planted in almost every food desert community. People are more active thanks to newly installed bike lanes and walking trails. Schools, businesses and private homes use solar panels and windmills as alternative power sources.
Three factors work together to build a more sustainable community. The environment, the economy and social equality all work together to make life better for all residents. The City of Akron is addressing these factors through sustainable, permanent solutions in order to make the community a better place to live for all people.
Ensuing the economy is thriving means creating jobs and raising wages. The higher the standard of living, the better residents can live. In addition, they will have more money to spend, which will further bolster the economy.
Doing everything possible to ensure the city is environmentally green is a big step in ensuring future generations grow up healthy. Clean water and air are important natural resources for all people. By reducing the role cars play and reducing the reliance on traditional fuel sources, air pollution is reduced. Cleaning up waterways and managing natural resources has also helped the city to become more green.
The final piece of this puzzle in ensuring that all residents have their social needs met adequately. This means that everyone has access to high quality health care, education and transportation, no matter their background or income level. This is made possible by encouraging all residents to participate in their local decision making processes.
In order to build a truly sustainable community, all three of these factors must be equally strong. If even one of them is weaker than the others, then the entire community can become less sustainable. To ensure Akron is a strong city both today and in the future, economic, environmental and social concerns must all three remain foremost in the eyes of local leaders.
The City of Akron has become a much more sustainable community over the last few years, but its leaders continue to strive to be even more sustainable in the future. The leadership of the city, as well as its residents, are committed to ensuring environmental health, improving economic equality and offering programs to meet social needs. This movement will continue, regardless of election cycles or political climates.
In order to track the city’s progress, Akron has instituted a system of more than two dozen sustainability indicators. These show the progress that has been made, and the progress that can still be made. City leaders and residents, partnering with local businesses and organizations, use these indicators to ensure all people in the area have the healthiest possible life, both for today and for the future.
Akron Dumpster Rental Pros is commited to recycling and supporting the development of more sustainable communities.
