Freiburg is known as an "eco-city". In recent years it has attracted the Bundesamt f�r Strahlenschutz, solar industries and research; the Greens have a stronghold here (the strongest in any major German city; up to 35% of the overall city vote, in some neighbourhoods reaching 40% or more in the 2012 national elections). The newly built neighbourhoods of Vauban and Rieselfeld were developed and built according to the idea of sustainability. The citizens of Freiburg are known in Germany for their love of cycling and recycling.
The Oberb�rgermeister, Dieter Salomon, (elected in as of 2002), was the first member of B�ndnis 90/Die Gr�nen to hold such an office in a city with more than 100,000 inhabitants. However, his deputy, Otto Neideck, is a member of the conservative party, the CDU.
In June 1995, the Freiburg city council adopted a resolution that it would permit construction only of "low-energy buildings" on municipal land, and all new buildings must comply with certain "low energy" specifications. Low-energy housing uses solar power passively as well as actively. In addition to solar panels and collectors on the roof, providing electricity and hot water, many passive features use the sun�s energy to regulate the temperature of the rooms.
2010 Green Party convention in Freiburg, Dieter Salomon , Green Party Mayor and Carey Campbell, USA,National Chairman Committee to Draft Michael Bloomberg, & Independent Green Party
Freiburg is host to a number of international organisations, in particular ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, ISES - International Solar Energy Society, and the City Mayors Foundation
