Green is the new black and cities are the new celebrities. Industries across the nation from electronics to oil are moving forward with eco-friendly plans designed to show their support of the environment (and to put dollars in their pockets from eco-conscious consumers). Local government and business initiative are pushing onwards with the development of ecocities (or sustainable cities) as a viable alternative, and they're rapidly becoming the trendiest new place to lay down your roots!

Defining The Ecocity

The ecocity is defined by two different factors: the input it requires from the land around it and the output that it causes to that land. In terms of input, an ecocity tries to reduce its reliance on the surrounding earth for necessities such as water, food and energy. In terms of output, it minimises the waste it produces in areas such as carbon dioxide air pollution and pollution to nearby water sources. Sounds technical and boring, doesn't it? But that's not the case; the people who live in ecocities are determined to make those places interesting, inspiring and fun. China and the U.S. are leading the way but there are ecocities in Africa, South America and Europe as well.

Qualities Of An Ecocity

There are many different aspects of a city that make it greener. Here are some of the standard features found in ecocities around the world:

• Deters Transportation Pollution: No-car cities or zones, great public transportation and government support for hybrid vehicles are ways that a city can deter the use of private transportation.
• Natural Landscaping / Xeriscaping: The entire city is landscaped in such a way as to maximize nature. This benefits the city in several ways; for example, the need for heating and air conditioning is reduced.
• Renewable Energy: It's a given that ecocities will use wind power, solar power and other renewable energy sources.
• Small Cities: Ecocities are small in size which helps keep everything sustainable and reduces the need to travel extensively.
• Urban Agriculture: By growing food within the city, there's little need for transport so pollution is reduced. Encourages the local food movement and organic eating.

Ecocities & Villages Around the World

Following you'll find some of the top ecocities and villages from around the world. Be forewarned; they may get you thinking that the grass is greener on the other side!

Masdar, Abu Dhabi

Masdar: One of the most well-known ecocities in the world is the developing city in Abu Dhabi called Masdar which is designed to be a 'zero-carbon, zero-waste' city. This part of the world which currently relies on oil as the major driving force of its economy wants to set an example for moving forward into a sustainable future.

Dongtan, China

Dongtan: This Chinese ecocity that will be located near Shanghai is one of the largest ecocities currently in the works. It opens in 2010 and by 2040 it is expected to be one third of the size of Manhattan and to have half a million people calling it home. Situated on Chongming island, the city is designed to use only green rapid transport and zero energy building practices. It is the first of four major ecocities planned by the same development team throughout China.

Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador

Bahia de Caraquez: This Ecuadorian ecocity is a case of taking a bad situation and turning it into a good thing: the city was devastated by natural disasters in the late 1990's. When it came time to rebuild, they decided to go green. It's now a leading tourist attraction for people interested in holidays with an eco-twist. Among the many accolades Bahia de Caraquez has earned is the envious title as the first city with a fully certified organic shrimp farm.

Lammas, Wales

Lammas: The families who are interested in living in this Welsh ecovillage have been pushing hard to be given permission and that permission was finally just granted by the British planning council. It will be an entirely self-sustaining woodland village emphasising green building practices including rammed earth flooring and hemp wall insulation. Electricity will be generated from local and renewable sources including small-scale ethanol production and from an existing wind turbine.

Treasure Island, California

Treasure Island: In between San Francisco and Oakland, California lies a small manmade island constructed by importing fill from the bay. This island has been many things over the years, including a popular movie filming location, but it is currently being redesigned as an ecocity intended to see its green groundbreaking ceremony next year. An urban farm will be supported by recycling all food scraps on the island. Energy will come from solar, wind and possibly tidal power. All buildings on Treasure Island will be LEED Gold Certified.

Sonoma Mountain Village, California

Sonoma Mountain Village: Treasure Island isn't the only Northern California ecocity to watch; about an hour north is a development in Rohnert Park called Sonoma Mountain Village. The 200 acres of land here are designed to be sustainable but will continue to support the high-tech industries that call the area home. It will take $1 billion and 12 years to rejuvenate and re-use the light industrial buildings to complete.

Clonburris, Ireland

Clonburris: This isn't quite a city but it's a developing eco-district that will serve as a suburb to Dublin. The three focus areas for this city are its location on a canal, a commitment to public transport and acute attention to reaching and sustaining its own critical mass.

Auroville, India

Auroville: This Indian 'ecocity' was established in 1968 which makes it one of the oldest ecocities in the world. As a result, many of its principles are based on the commune ideals of the 1960's era and do not necessarily implement all of the modern goals seen in the ecocities being developed today. Nevertheless, this is an interesting place. The entire city is based on spiritual principles that ban things like politics and materialism; the green movement is just one aspect of the city's focus on alternative lifestyles.

Arcosanti, Arizona

Arcosanti: Arcosanti is another of the alternative cities that was developed based on the post-modernist ideal of communal life made famous by renowned arcologist Paolo Soleri; it was launched in 1970 and construction continues on the project today. Located in Arizona, the city is intended for a population of 3000+ but currently only has around 100 residents. Those residents have gained some attention for the eco-movement through the creation and sale of art products including Southwestern windbells.

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca: In upstate New York lies an ecovillage called Ithaca which is built around the goal of becoming a green alternative to suburbia. 80% of its 175 acres is planned to remain green so it's not a full ecocity but it's making a concentrated effort to become one.

Tianjin, China

Tianjin: This large ecocity is a joint project between China and Singapore. It's an energy-efficient city in which ninety percent of the residents are expected to use green transportation. The early stages should be ready within the next three years with the city's goal to be complete in 10-15 years.

Britain

Britain: Obviously Britain itself is no ecocity but they've recently identified fifteen different locations that are the possible sites for the ten ecocities that they have plans to build in the coming years. Construction will begin in 2010 with five towns complete by 2016 and the rest completed by 2020.

Sseesamirembe, Uganda & Tanzania

Sseesamirembe: This 200 square mile ecocity is an interesting project because it's a city that exists inside two countries, straddling the border between Uganda and Tanzania. Its green efforts include reforestation, hybrid solar-wind power, waste reduction and alternative home building.

Johannesburg EcoVillage, South Africa

Johannesburg EcoVillage: An eco-friendly development in Johannesburg, South Africa aims to combine African village life, modern ecological business development and green practices. Some of the ideas for the village have come from the renowned BedZED development in London, which has a reputation as being a leading light in future urban sustainable building practices.

MenTouGou, Beijing

MenTouGou: A group of researchers in Finland have started the initial research for an EcoCity in Beijing's MenTouGou District with the intention of making it a base for the green development of cutting-edge technology. Plans for the project will be officially unveiled during the Olympic Games this summer. MenTouGou's green credentials will include energy efficient housing and low-waste living, a closed water system, integrated telecommunications, low-emission passenger traffic, efficient waste management and recycling, and emission-free local energy production based on solar, wind and bio power.