WalkScore is a site that rates towns and neighborhoods based on how easy it is to get around on foot - The way it works is essentially based on how close a place is to businesses. So in a way, the site is as much a measure of population density and zoning regulations as anything else.
When I think about the places I would want to live, it ultimately comes down to the single issue of how pedestrian-friendly the place is. Living in New York was great for this reason, and Lubbock, TX was terrible. As a kid, we lived across the street from a library, but the street was a 12-lane highway with no place to cross. We had to wait for my dad to come home with the car so that we could drive across the street.
This is an idea I've heard suggested but had never seen anyone try to implement: environmentally-friendly events.
Most events are so wasteful (all those drink stirrers, those plastic cups and plates, and those conference lanyards, tote bags, etc.) that it seemed like an obvious idea.
From the site:
dvGreen designs sustainable events without sacrificing style. We show our clients that they can reduce their ecological footprint while still throwing a beautiful party - one that just happens to be Green. By featuring organic food, flowers, and table linens; tree-free paper invitations; donating or composting leftover food; purchasing carbon offsets, and more, dvGreen creates incredible events that you can be proud of forever.