Whether it's walking to work or strolling to school or moseying to the market, this Urbana neighborhood has plenty of footprints and most aren't leaving behind any pollution.

"We all need to think about our own personal carbon foot printing and the uses of those gases, also what we can do as a community to progress and have a more sustainable lifestyle,” community developer, Libby Tyler says.

In Urbana, it starts at city hall with automatic light switches recycling programs and city zoning designed to attract green residents.

"So if residents want to install solar cells or small wind turbines, we want to make sure that that is permissible and we're not setting up barriers to inhibit that,” Bill Gray says. Gray works for the public works department.

Those are the serene sounds of one of Urbana’s fleet of hybrids canvassing the friendly city confines.

"We're trying to reduce our fuel consumption. We have a goal over the next few years to try to drop it by 10 percent and again with smart vehicle purchase in the future and just to look at our operations. It’s as simple as where can we car pool more? Things of that sort,” Gray adds.

And the city even has plans for an all inclusive green neighborhood.

When it's complete, it will use only 10 to 25 percent of the energy of traditional neighborhoods.

“Things like permeable pavement, rain gardens for rain water disposal, organic gardens, so it should be a wonderful neighborhood that gets developed,” Tyler adds.

Experts say leading by example is the key to encouraging green policies in your city. Do what you think is right and encourage your neighbors to do the same.