Interstate to trees near St. Louis arch

USA Today reports on the plans to green-up the interstate highway near the St. Louis, Missouri arch.

An environmental group wants to remove Interstate 70 from the downtown area and create a tree-lined boulevard according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For years, civic leaders, including former Republican Sen. John Danforth, have sought to find a way to connect downtown with the Arch grounds and the river. Right now, the interstate makes it difficult to move freely from downtown. Bridges cross above the interstate, but traffic is heavy and walking can be dangerous.

The National Park Service, which operates the Arch and its grounds, launched the international competition to redesign the grounds.

Read the full story: Big changes in store for area around St. Louis arch

Photo from SLANAC

A visit to eco-city Freiburg, Germany

The Los Angeles Times visits the green city of Freiburg, Germany.

Renewable energy and public transportation are actively encouraged in this city of 220,000 nestled in the Southwest corner of the country.

The Best Western Premier Hotel Victoria, built in 1875, was even part of the green movement, billing itself as a "zero emissions" hotel. It uses no more power than it generates, thanks to its solar roof, an investment in a windmill and an eco-power supplier.

Read the full story: Freiburg: A very eco-friendly German city

Photo from Wikimedia

Los Angeles the green city

A recent Brookings Institution study found that Los Angeles is one of the top greenest cities in the U.S., reports the Economist.

The study focused on carbon emissions through household energy use and highway traffic.

The top four greenest cities are:
1) Honolulu, Hawaii
2) Los Angeles, California
3) Portland, Oregon
4) New York, New York

Los Angeles has a temperate climate that doesn't require a lot of heating or cooling, so even though Angelenos drive everywhere, their weather helps lessen their energy use.

Read the full story: And the winner is...