Concepts of a Livable City

Positive impacts of buying locally 

• Less carbon emissions produced through transportation of food 

• Increases local jobs 

• Invests directly into your community socially and economically

• Decreases packaging that would have been required to transport foods 

• Decreases landfill waste 

Freiburg has many local farms that sell local organic food, farmers markets are located throughout the city on weekdays to increase walkability and access to locally sourced food. Munstermarket was an amazing farmers market containing local farmers with seasonal foods!

Environmental impact: carbon reduction, noise pollution reduction, air pollution decrease 

Social impact: healthier citizens, safer walkability aspects Infrastructure impact: mass amount of bike spaces, bike highways, larger sidewalks, bus routes, tram lines, increasing train accessibility, and narrow roads for cars 

Cultural impact: walkable cities, trams create a sense of community and less isolation 

Freiburg has a tram system that runs throughout the city which allows a car free zone for increased walkability and access to public transportation. Regional trains run in and out of the city connecting Freiburg to the surrounding cities.

Third spaces can be found directly in the middle of neighborhoods throughout the city of Freiburg and the surrounding suburbs. Places like playgrounds, city parks, vineyards, and water parks allow citizens living in the surrounding areas to enjoy a sense of community and social life. These third spaces are essential for childhood development and are often used to increase the fresh cell infill process of these neighborhoods. Fresh cell infill processes are essential to the development of cities, as the increasing young population in the city allows the city to be rejuvenated by a younger modern generation bringing life and new purpose back into the city. Preschools and educational buildings for children should be within walking distance for their parents to entice them into the area due to the closeness of the schools. 

Helps to combat the urban heat island: The urban heat island has proved to be a dangerous side effect of the increasing concrete jungle. The areas with mass amounts of concrete and little vegetation absorb heat. Decreasing the amount of concrete and increasing the amount of plant life allows the city to decrease in overall temperature, air pollution in the middle of the city can then be combatted from the small effort of implementing green roofs and more vegetation in the city. Green roofs also bring back the environmental ecosystem that were lost when the building was constructed. Green Roofs with flowers allow pollinators to be attracted in, and insect populations, as well as the biodiversity of the populations can be increased. 

It is required in Freiburg to construct green roofs or solar panels on new constructions!

Solar energy, wind energy, water energy, biogas plant energy
The dependence on nonrenewable energy and fossil fuels is not a dependable way to rely on energy, Freiburg and the surrounding cities in Germany are highly dependent on solar energy and other renewable resources that are crucial for the cities electricity. Windmills, biodigesters, solar energy, and water produced energy all allow the city to run without depending on nonrenewable resources that are damaging the environment.​ It's interesting to note that in these cities having either a solar panel or a green roof is demanded. In Knoxville, most residential houses would not be able to have green roofs due to the triangular roofs, but commercial areas could provide space for these green roofs.  

"Freiburg, Europe's "solar city", has goals of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035 and carbon neutrality for the city by 2050!" (Green City: Freiburg, Germany)

Landfills are the worst form of waste as they are using nonrenewable land that often becomes so polluted that it becomes unusable 

Incineration produces mass amounts dioxins and furans which emit mass amounts of toxins and pollutants into the air affecting air quality 

Composting allows a renewing of life for biodegradable products, increases nitrogen into soil and creates a product that can be sold while decreasing waste 

Reducing waste to begin with allows the processing systems of recycling, landfill waste, and incineration processes from being overwhelmed The reduction of trash is also important because it is the easiest way to avoid overproduction and overconsumption of harmful products. 

In Freiburg it is common to see the separation of trash and reusable items. Glass bottles can be returned to stores for money back on groceries, items that can decompose are composted in large compost facilities, and landfills for nonreusable items are avoided.