Denver, close to where I live, has been at the forefront of green initiatives for quite some time. Already ranked as one of the nation’s top ten cities when it comes to sustainability, Denver International Airport is garnering national attention for its mammoth solar power installation. The newly installed system includes an extensive (and very beautiful) photovoltaic array that’s generating an estimated 3.5 million-kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually”reducing airport carbon emissions on a scale of more than five million pounds each year.

More recently, the B-Cycle bike share program was launched in Denver. The first of its kind in the country, it allows residents and visitors to access glinting red Tetra three-speed bikes at one of 500 bike stations located throughout the city.  Swiping a credit card gets you into the system, with a cost of $5.00 per 24 hours. The first 30 minutes of use is always free, and an hour costs just a dollar. Then, you grab a bike (outfitted with a basket for shopping), ride it to your destination, and leave it at the nearest station. When you’re ready to move on, you simply pick up another bike and go. Starting in June, the bikes will also sport computer chips that track mileage, calorie consumption, and carbon offsets. A cleaner environment with a healthier population”what’s not to love? Hopefully, program success in Denver will lead to other cities quickly following suit.

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