Nowadays, going green is no longer just a trend. Cities, states, and nations alike are all feeling the overwhelming pressures to do something to lessen their carbon footprint and Raleigh is no different! Many Raleigh patrons have always been aware of the benefits of a ‘green lifestyle’ and the city is finally following suit. The city offers several green innovations that make Downtown Raleigh a definite destination for the environmentally-conscious.

The city of Raleigh has done more than expected when it comes to green living. To solve fuel emission problems, the city recently launched the R-LINE, a hybrid-electric bus system. These busses are FREE, convenient, and safe and allow Raleigh patrons to travel not only green, but in style.  The city has also recently introduced the eco-friendly Raleigh Rickshaw system in which downtowners can ride around in bike-driven carriages. These bikers work completely off of tips and provide a fun twist to green transportation.

Fortunately, Raleigh’s green aspects do not stop at transportation. Many commercial buildings in Raleigh are going green. Including the massive Convention Center! The Convention Center is currently in the process of receiving its LEED Silver Certification. For those new to the green scene, “LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings” (USGBC).  This certification will draw an array of prospective business travelers, performance-goers, etc. who are worried about their environmental impact.

In fact, the Convention Center has already caught the eye of GreenNC for its 5^th annual Tradeshow; an event catered around the North Carolina Building Industry. The event  focuses on projecting the green building industry to the general public.  Prior tradeshows have mostly emphasized the advantages of commercial green building but GreenNC hopes to attract a large green prospective homebuyer crowd because of the bigger residential section they have included in this year’s show.  The show will take place September 9-10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the general public.

Raleigh dining cannot be left out when on the subject of green. With wonderful restaurants such as Zely & Ritz, Poole’s Diner, and Dos Taquitos Centro who focus on fresh, organic ingredients, green patrons will not be left hungry. Zely & Ritz in particular has come under a tremendous amount of acclaim for their innovative methods. Located on Glenwood South, this restaurant only uses the freshest ingredients; many of which are from their own Coon Rock Farm! This organic restaurant is very popular right now in the Triangle however. Do not expect to just walk in and get a table! Their website conveniently provides a reservation tool to ensure a delicious, but stress-free green dinner.

From transportation to dining, Downtown Raleigh is inches from becoming the green trendsetter in the Triangle. Come enjoy fresh air, green buildings, and lots of delicious local organic food in the capital city. You will not be disappointed!