Greening New York and it’s High Line
New York makes it into to the top 10 Green Cities of the world.
New York City is the greenest large city in the U.S.A. Its greenhouse gas emissions are low for a city its size with the population relying heavily on its extensive public transport system.
New York has incorporated over 1400 benchmarked and strategised initiatives writing many into law and thus ensuring the 2050 target of an 80% reduction in New York’s carbon footprint if realised.
New York boasts the cleanest air in 50 years, is a leader in green technology and green building regulations. An impressive 950,000 trees and six million square feet of reflective rooftop has been added to the urban landscape in recent years.
One of the most impressive urban re-development projects is the High Line. Some sustainability features include:
Structure
Converting each section of the High Line from an out-of-use railroad trestle to a public landscape entailed not only years of planning, community input, and work by some of the city’s most inventive designers and more than two years of construction per section
Landscaping
Self-seeded landscapes that grew on the out-of-use elevated rail tracks during the 25 years after trains stopped running. The species of perennials, grasses, shrubs and trees were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and textural and color variation, with a focus on native species. Many of the species that originally grew on the High Line’s rail bed are incorporated into the park’s landscape.
Watering
A green roof system is designed to allow the plants to retain as much water as possible. In addition, there is an irrigation system installed with options for both automatic and manual watering. Porous pathways contain open joints, so water can drain between planks and water adjacent planting beds, cutting down on the amount of stormwater that runs off the site into the sewer system.
Composting
On-site composting facilities turns garden waste into compost without the need to add commercial fertilizer.
Products
Environmentally sound purchasing using Green Seal-certified cleaning solutions and post-consumer paper products for recurring maintenance needs.