Building a Sustainable San Jose
Becoming a sustainable community has become somewhat of a buzz word across the United States over the last few years, and San Jose 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.
What does a sustainable community look like? Look around you. San Jose is well on its way to becoming a much more sustainable community than it was just a few years ago. The use of natural resources is decreasing, and the pollution level is going down along with it. The waterways are being cleaned up, and there are more public parks and greenspaces being built every year. If you visit these parks, you will see people of all ages, cultures, races and even income levels. They all have equal access to the space, and share in a wealth of new cultural events that are being planned in San Jose.
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 San Jose is addressing these factors through sustainable, permanent solutions in order to make the community a better place to live for all people.
Today, San Jose is much more environmentally friendly than ever before. All residents have access to cleaner air and water than they have in the past. The air is cleaner thanks to a reduction in the reliance on cars and fossil fuels which create greenhouse gases and pollution. Rivers, streams and lakes have been cleaned up, and industrial pollution has been greatly reduced.
Despite an international economic crisis, San Jose has continued to encourage its thriving economy. Jobs have been created, and unemployment has been reduced. Better wages have led to a better quality of life, and this has led to an even better economic environment.
Addressing the social needs of the most at-need communities is the last factor on this list. San Jose is working to ensure all residents have equal access to health care, quality educational experiences and reliable transportation. No one is overlooked in this process, because residents from all walks of life are encouraged to play a role in the process.
These three factors work together to build a strong, sustainable community. If one of the factors is faltering, however, the entire community becomes weak. Economic, environmental and social concerns must be addressed equally to ensure a strong city for today and for the future.
While much progress has already been made, the City of San Jose is dedicated to continue making progress toward being an even more sustainable community. The city’s leadership is committed to improving the environmental health, offering economic opportunity, and ensuring social equality for all residents.
To ensure the city continues to make progress toward its sustainability goals, San Jose is using a list of 26 indicators to judge their progress. These indicators bolster confidence because they show that progress has been made, but they also show there is still much work ahead. By keeping an eye on this list of indicators, city leaders and residents alike and ensure all people in San Jose can live healthy lives both today and in the future.
San Jose Dumpster Rental Pros is commited to recycling and supporting the development of more sustainable communities.