Favorite eco-friendly small towns

BOULDER, CO

Population: 93,552

What a house costs: $424,044

Its smart growth policy is the best in the nation. And it’s a biking capital whose gobikeboulder.net helps cyclists find routes around town.

Info  bouldercolorado.gov

PALO ALTO, CA

Population: 58,246

What a house costs: $1,343,778

At the forefront of the green technology wave with venture capitalists like Kleiner Perkins and eco-innovators like Ausra (solar energy).

Info  paloaltochamber.com

SALT LAKE CITY

Salt Lake City Population: 180,651

What a house costs: $284,401

Okay, it’s not small, but SLC has received about every available accolade for its green policies, including its e2 Citizen program to help address climate change.

Info  slcgov.com

TRUCKEE, CA

Population: 16,042

What a house costs: $499,000

The Truckee Climate Action Network’s "Keep Truckee Cool" campaign encourages residents to install 1,000 solar roofs by 2013.

Info  truckee.com