The Windy City dyes their river green for St. Patrick's Day, but that's not all that goes green. A two mile bridge in the Monroe Harbor will cement Chicago's position as the Greenest City in the U.S. It will provide space for wind turbines to provide economic value to a recreational source. Chicago hopes to host the 2016 Olympics and is using this project in their bid. The proposed Chicago 'Eco-Bridge' completes the last major recommendation of the 1909 Burnham Plan of Chicago in a thoroughly modern way that celebrates Chicago's future as well as its past.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Eco-bridges
- Creating bridges that leverage renewable energy sources provides an opportunity for cities to expand environmentally sustainable practices in their infrastructure.
- Green Sports Facilities
- Sports facilities could increasingly be designed to host green energy solutions, creating an opportunity for sustainable innovation and energy-efficient infrastructure.
- Sustainable City Planning
- Cities, large and small, have an opportunity to create sustainable development plans that incorporate green solutions, like Eco-Bridges, that successfully integrate the past, present and future.
Where This Applies
- Construction
- The construction industry can make a significant impact by incorporating eco-friendly building practices and innovative designs, such as Chicago's Eco-Bridge concept.
- Energy
- Renewable energy companies can explore providing wind turbines and solar energy facilities for green bridges and sports facilities, creating new and innovative ways to increase renewable energy sources.
- City Planning
- City planners can use the Eco-Bridge concept as inspiration for sustainable development plans in urban areas to decrease environmental impact and increase the use of renewable energy.
