Atlanta has discovered that it’s not just good for health and the environment to “go green.” It’s also economical, practical, and above all, it’s easy!

The ATL has always had a reputation as a green city, but the definition has broadened considerably in the recent years. The rich tree canopy that blankets Atlanta and its surrounding area has been a source of pride and admiration for over 150 years.

Perhaps it is that verdant tradition that has propelled Atlanta to the forefront of sustainability and eco-friendly communities. The city has achieved its place at the front in no small measure due to the local government commitment, but it is the citizens and community awareness that has put Atlanta in position to stand as a wonderfully green American city.

Atlanta has implemented Power to Change, a sustainability initiative launched out of the mayor’s Office of Sustainability. This office has cited twelve separate sustainability initiative programs currently under way or in the planning stages in the city including Cartlanta, the city’s waste-reduction element for sustainability through recycling. Cartlanta provides 96-gallon residential recycling bins for regular collection.

Doing Your Part: What Are the Atlanteans doing to Go Green?

Three things that we all can do to stay green-conscious is to adhere to the threefold hierarchy for the rethinking of society’s waste products: reduce, reuse and recycle. But this kind of thinking is being applied to areas other than the handling of waste. Even applied to large appliances and automobiles, the admonition to think of reuse is key to the success of any community-wide application of going green.

Used appliances are not only less expensive to buy, they can last as long as new replacements. Buying used is even more appropriate when you think about replacing your car. What model you choose can make a big statement about your green-consciousness. It comes quite as a surprise to many, that electric-powered cars can actually leave a much larger carbon footprint than the most efficient gasoline-powered cars, at least in many areas of the U.S. such as Georgia. A report released by ClimateCentral.org reveals that in areas where electric power is primarily produced from coal or natural gas burning plants, the footprint of a plug-in Chevy Volt or Nissan Leaf is notably larger than that of a Toyota Prius, which produces its own hybrid electricity from its gasoline engine and braking system.

Read on GWI Think Green, Think Waste Management- Path for Sustainable Environment.

Is It Really Less Expensive to Buy Green Products?

Many green items are less expensive in the long run because they last longer. For an accurate comparison, costs must be looked at over time. Atlanta’s eco-conscious citizens continue to move in the right direction toward a bright green future, not only saving their city and the planet, but also saving money.

This article is written by Leroy Smith. Clean, sustainable energy is Leroy’s calling in life. He spends as much time teaching his children DIY environmentalism as he does traveling for the solar energy company he helped conceptualize