Green Water Fronts
Chicago Eco-Bridge
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.
Trend Themes
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Eco-bridges — Creating bridges that leverage renewable energy sources provides an opportunity for cities to expand environmentally sustainable practices in their infrastructure.
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Green Sports Facilities — Sports facilities could increasingly be designed to host green energy solutions, creating an opportunity for sustainable innovation and energy-efficient infrastructure.
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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.
Industry Implications
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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.
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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.
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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.