This identification of neighborhoods inside of urban areas which are not ec-friendly builds the misconception that you can pay for an environmental exemption card. In real life those recycling programs are only decreasing landfills in neighboring areas by one percent or less. I real life victorians and brownstones are as environmentally friendly as an SUV. It provides convenience to the user, but does NOT protect the environment.

Acnatta is right...why do we disassociate ground breaking neighborhoods that actually works in balance with the environment? Not that Birmingham is the model for environmentally friendly cities, but Brooklyn's bus route and subway stops are hardly the green policies we need to protect our whithering environment.
Look into rural communities in northern New Mexico which which use solar energy and collected, natural water supplies exclusively.
Finally, why hate on California? Its policies have been advancing environmentally friendly policy for decades. The first global warming policy in the history of the US came out of the California legislature. Besides, the state that produces the majority of the nation's produce should not be the first to be held to the highest standards. Handling the load for the whole country should provide allowances, not lambasted for not having an eco-friendly neighborhood. Especially when the model is urban neighborhoods with high-end real-estate.