Scrub the soaked drip pans and racks clean. What should you not clean silver jewelry with? Sure, anyone who rides the New York City subway — or those in a lot of other cities, for that matter — everyday will probably snicker (or worse) at the categorical statement that subways are clean. But the Green Highways Partnership, an effort begun by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Highway Administration, seeks to enlist public and private entities in an effort to make highways function better for those who drive on them (i.e. less congested) and also more sustainable. It is part of an effort to better manage the city’s planning in such a way to avoid more car-oriented sprawl. Tinskey estimates that there are currently around 3,000 chargers nationwide but that number will quadruple over the next year alone, thanks in large part to funding from 2009’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus. The group was finally successful in its efforts when the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park opened in 2009 — making it the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, which has since attracted more than 1 million visitors.

In the city’s old Meatpacking District, a group of committed citizens have transformed what was once a piece of what would now be called green infrastructure — an elevated railway line — and transformed it into a nearly 1.5-mile (2.14 kilometer) walkway and park on the west side of Manhattan called the High Line. A study of the 14-mile (22.5 kilometer) Bus Rapid Transit Corridor in Guangzhou, China, that nation’s third largest city, found that the system will reduce carbon dioxide by 86,000 tons (78,018 metric tons) per year in its first decade of operation. In Atlanta, for instance, a quasi-greenway approach is being used to push for what is called the BeltLine, a 22-mile (35.41 kilometer) corridor that incorporates parks, trails and public transportation along with commercial and residential development. In addition, the study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, found that Guangzhou’s dedicated bus system reduced particulate emissions that cause respiratory illness by 4 tons (3.62 metric tons) per year. Convenience is obviously one, but having to wait at a bus stop and then sit or stand on a crowded bus while cars go by is definitely another big impediment.

Also important in making electric vehicles more viable is that six automakers recently agreed on a charging connector that will make it possible for most electric cars to be charged much more rapidly than was previously possible — an 80 percent charge in just 10 minutes. Enhancing electric vehicle use by expanding charging infrastructure and adopting uniform charging connectors can significantly reduce carbon emissions. EPA. “Water Use Today.” Water Sense. As a grownup, you understand that water resources are limited and dependent on seasonal rainfall. Other industrial sectors such as automotive, aerospace, food, cosmetics, agriculture, manufacturing, and textiles are highly dependent on such products. For instance, so-called permeable pavers are a big benefit when it comes to managing rain and storm water runoff in such a way that it returns underground or collects in pools where it can be reused instead of running off and being lost or polluting watersheds.5 million gallons each year, a community in Minneapolis, Minn., installed around 1,100 square feet (102.2 square meters) of permeable pavers made by a company called Belgard. You know it washes into storm drains or soaks through the soil to accumulate in underground aquifers. The Play-Doh formula was somewhat refined in the late 1950s by chemist Dr. Tien Liu, to make it so that it wouldn’t dry out as quickly as the original wallpaper cleaner formula.

The fact that the bridge utilized an existing structure — rather than starting from scratch with all new materials — also provided green benefits, especially since lead and asbestos from the original structure were replaced with more sustainable materials. More specifically, green highways are those that use permeable materials in their construction in order to prevent metals and toxins from seeping into watersheds; utilize recycled materials to reduce landfill use; and control invasive species and promote the health of a natural, native habitat. Developing green highways that utilize sustainable materials and designs, such as permeable pavements and recycled construction materials, can mitigate environmental impacts. The idea of a so-called green highway is controversial enough that the very first of the frequently asked questions on the official Web site of the Green Highways Partnership asks: “Is the phrase ‘Green Highways’ an oxymoron?” For some people, like author Ozzie Zehner, the answer would likely be, yes. Robby Bryant worked with HDR Engineering, the company that designed the first 5 acres of the BeltLine, and says that this holistic approach also provides important opportunities beyond just transportation. Although only about one quarter of it exists right now in the form of trails dedicated for non-motorized transportation, efforts like the East Coast Greenway are quintessential green transportation infrastructure initiatives: providing opportunities for those not in cars to get around and in between towns and, in this case, even states.