If you're looking to live in a “green” Floridian city, look no further than St. Petersburg! It was the first city to be designated a “Green City” by the Florida Building Coalition. A city of eco-friendly firsts, St. Pete hosts Florida's first LEED GOLD certified homes, the first Solar Condo Project as well as the first LEED certified Dunkin-Donuts!
St. Pete is incredibly pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. In fact, it was named one of the country's “Top 10 Cities for Cycling” in 2012. St. Pete is full of nature trails and on-street bike lanes. St. Pete's very own “Green Taxi” service encourages city residents and tourists to combine travel with sightseeing. These downtown pedal cab services are fun and have zero environmental impact.
Every Saturday, downtown St. Pete hosts the city's famous Saturday Morning Market. What started off in 2002 as a small event, has since grown tremendously. Today, the Market features hundreds of local food, art, plant and craft vendors. There is always live, local music to enjoy. The Saturday Morning Market has been said to be the “heart” of St. Pete, with its strong sense of community and connectedness.
In Spring, St. Pete also celebrates the annual “Green Thumb Festival,” a two-day event featuring environmental exhibits, local vendors and educational programs. This celebration is free to the public and aims to educate people about conservation, gardening and many other ways to care for the environment.
St. Pete has several other eco-friendly initiatives. From streetscaping, to recycling, to water conservation programs, the city actively works to maintain a green lifestyle. Many apartments on Rent Tampa Bay have their own green initiatives as well. To find these apartments, visit the Tampa Bay Apartments page. Click the “Green Efforts” tab and check your preferences. Any apartments that do not match your green lifestyle will be removed from the results.
If you're someone that enjoys living an environmentally-conscious and green lifestyle, St. Pete just may be the perfect city for you!