Why Bristol?
The energy-efficient city
Bristol uses less energy per household than any major UK city, with residents saving about £150 each on their heating bills since 2005. Our £140m energy investment programme will improve thousands of homes, more than double the city’s solar generation and pioneer district heating.
The healthy, accessible city
We have the highest cycling rates of any major UK city, three and a half times the average. We’ve achieved this through central and local government, business, community and voluntary groups all working together.
Changing travel patterns
We’re investing over £400m in transport infrastructure, including a low emission metrobus system, and plans to encourage alternatives to car use, tackle congestion and increase safety.
A resource-efficient city
Bristolians have reduced the amount of waste they produce by 29%, increased recycling and composting from 13% to nearly 50% and reduced landfill by 75%. And Bristol now recovers energy locally, from 25% of its waste.
Quality of life
One third of our city is green or blue open space, protected during the city’s recent growth while 95% of building development has been on ‘brownfield’ derelict land and properties.
A thriving green economy
Our infrastructure and expertise supports development of the ‘green’ economy. In the midst of recession, our green economy grew 4.7% in 2012, with more than 1,000 businesses in Bristol and the West of England providing environmental services or goods. These employ over 9,000 people in Bristol and over 19,000 in the whole of the West of England.