Eco-Friendly Greensboro: Top Sustainable Businesses and Green Initiatives

Written By Joy Watson

Eric and I got e-bikes in the spring of 2025 and we have been out on the Greensboro greenway trails constantly ever since. So when the Downtown Greenway officially completed its final western section on May 16, 2026, I felt it personally. We have watched this trail come together over years, riding partial sections, navigating construction detours, and waiting for the loop to close. It finally did. And it is spectacular.

That personal connection is also why I wanted to update this post. Greensboro's sustainability story keeps getting better, and the people who stay at my short-term rentals deserve to know what is right outside their door. So here is the full picture: the LEED hotel that put Greensboro on the green map, the brand-new completed greenway loop, the reuse shops and farm-to-table kitchens, and my own little corner of this ecosystem at Joy Watson Real Estate and Watsucker Urban Farm.

The Downtown Greenway Loop Is Finally Complete

This is the biggest news in Greensboro right now and I could not write a post about eco-friendly living here without leading with it. After more than 25 years of planning and community effort, the City of Greensboro and nonprofit Action Greensboro officially cut the ribbon on the final section of the Downtown Greenway on May 16, 2026. The result is a fully connected 4-mile paved multi-use loop encircling the heart of downtown.

In 2025 alone, the greenway drew more than 150,000 trail-use counts and nearly 4,000 participants in free organized programming, including fitness classes, group bike rides, bird walks, painting classes, and a fan favorite called Yappy Hour. Free year-round programming through Greensboro Parks and Recreation continues on the completed loop. The trail also connects to the broader 75-mile Greensboro trail network, so you can cover serious ground on foot or on wheels without ever touching a car.

For guests staying at my properties near Wendover Avenue, the greenway is walkable or a short ride away. If you are a cyclist, a runner, a dog walker, or someone who just likes moving through a city at a human pace, this trail is a gift that has been a long time coming.

Proximity Hotel: Still the Greenest Place to Sleep in Greensboro

Proximity Hotel has held its LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council since it opened, making it the first hotel in the world to earn that designation. The numbers are genuinely impressive: 100 solar panels across 4,000 square feet power 60% of the hotel's hot water, the building uses 41% less energy and 33% less water than comparable hotels, and North America's first regenerative elevator recycles braking energy back into the building's electrical grid. The bistro bar was built from salvaged walnut trees. Construction diverted 87% of waste from landfills. The hotel restored 700 feet of a nearby stream using native plants, boulders, and logs.

The adjacent Print Works Bistro is also LEED Platinum certified and sources local ingredients. And Proximity loans guests complimentary bicycles to explore the trail system. That detail lands differently now that the Downtown Greenway loop is complete.

If luxury is your travel style and sustainability matters to you, Proximity is doing it right.

Joy Watson Real Estate: Pet-Friendly, People-First Short-Term Rentals

I am a former Special Education teacher turned independent Realtor and housing provider. I own a small portfolio of short-term rentals in Greensboro, all of them pet friendly, all of them within a few blocks of each other on the west side of downtown. They are real homes in a real neighborhood, not a corporate operation. I know my guests' names. I know their dogs' names.

My four active Airbnb listings are:

  • Library of Ivy and Ellie at 903 W. Wendover: A whole-home cottage with a full kitchen, shower, and driveway parking. Walkable to UNCG and Cone Health. Named for my two daughters.
  • Hunsucker's Place at 905 W. Wendover: A 1942 musician's cottage with a full kitchen, bathtub, and driveway parking. Eric's piano studio is here. The vibe is warm, musical, and slightly eccentric.
  • My Sister's House at 1007 Grayland: A whole-home rental with a full kitchen, bathtub, driveway parking, and a fully fenced backyard. Perfect for guests traveling with dogs.
  • Your Mom's Place at 909 W. Wendover: Two private rooms in the home where Eric and I actually live, named for our mothers Dottie and Uschi. A kitchenette, shower, and street parking. Cozy, personal, and genuinely affordable.

Every property uses 100% cotton sheets, energy-efficient appliances, and recycling programs. I drive a 2014 Prius. The whole portfolio is within easy reach of the Downtown Greenway. When guests ask me what to do, the first thing I say is: grab a bike and get on the trail.

See all listings at joywatsonrealestate.com/rentals. STR hosting resources are also available at joywatsonrealestate.com/short-term-rental-resources.

Watsucker Urban Farm: Growing Skills, Not Just Food

One of the most meaningful things I do in Greensboro has nothing to do with real estate transactions. Watsucker Urban Farm is a job and life skills training program I run for students with learning differences. My background in Special Education never really left me, even after I left the classroom in 2021. The farm is where that background found its second life.

Urban farming is inherently sustainable: closed-loop composting, reduced food miles, hands-on environmental education, and real economic participation for people who are often overlooked by workforce programs. I believe deeply that a neighborhood with an urban farm is healthier, more connected, and more resilient than one without. Watsucker is small right now. That is okay. Good things grow slowly.

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro: The Best Kind of Recycling

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro, operated through Preservation Greensboro, reclaims historic building materials and diverts more than 20 tons from landfills every year. Doors, mantels, hardware, chandeliers, brick: the stuff that makes old Greensboro houses what they are. Bill Dawkins keeps making it better and I say that with genuine affection. Call ahead to confirm hours before you go.

Reconsidered Goods: A Creative Reuse Center Worth Knowing

Reconsidered Goods is a nonprofit that keeps art supplies, craft materials, and reusable goods out of landfills and in the hands of artists, teachers, and makers. Their store and studio space on Spring Garden Street are worth a visit if you are that kind of person. Eric has been there many times.

  • Address: 4118 Spring Garden St, Greensboro, NC 27407
  • Phone: (336) 763-5041
  • Website: reconsideredgoods.org

Red Collection: High-End Consignment for a Circular Economy

Red Collection is a consignment shop with two Greensboro locations carrying furniture, fashion, and home decor at prices that make sense. Buying secondhand is one of the most concrete sustainable choices a person can make, and Red Collection makes it genuinely pleasurable rather than a compromise.

  • Addresses: 1201 Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407 and a second location on Mill St across from Bargain Box
  • Phone: (336) 297-0900
  • Website: redcollection.com

Eco-Friendly Plumbing: NG Plumbing

NG Plumbing, Heating and Air is on my preferred vendors list for a reason. Nacho and his team do tankless water heater installations and energy-efficient HVAC work throughout Greensboro. If you own property here and want to reduce your utility load, this is where I send people.

Sustainable Dining in Greensboro

The farm-to-table and values-driven dining scene in Greensboro has had a tough stretch lately — a few beloved spots have closed or announced closures in 2026. What is left standing is genuinely worth your time and your money. Here are three I feel good recommending right now:

Restaurant What to Know Address Phone
Chez Genèse French-inspired breakfast and lunch cafe. Hires adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. One of the most genuinely community-rooted restaurants in Greensboro. 616 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27406 (336) 663-7399
Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen Seasonal Southern cooking with a longstanding local sourcing commitment. A Greensboro institution. 1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408 (336) 370-0707
Undercurrent Restaurant New American fare with local sourcing on Battleground Avenue. Dinner-focused and consistently solid. 327 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 370-1266

Note: Several beloved Greensboro restaurants including Cille and Scoe have announced 2026 closures. Always call ahead or check Google before visiting a new spot.

The Greensboro Botanical Gardens

The Greensboro Botanical Gardens, managed by Greensboro Beautiful, showcase native plants and offer a beautiful walking experience near the Wendover corridor. Genuinely close to my properties. Great with or without dogs, though dogs must be on leash.

If You Are Thinking About Buying in Greensboro

Everything on this list is part of why I focus on historic in-town Greensboro neighborhoods: Fisher Park, College Hill, Westerwood, Idlewood, Old Irving Park, Latham Park, Sunset Hills, Lake Daniel, and College Park. These are walkable, ecologically interesting neighborhoods with real trees, real history, and proximity to everything on this list. If you are thinking about buying here, let's talk.

I work with some genuinely excellent lenders: Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe at Highlands Residential Mortgage, Tena Anton at Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, Bret Barrow at JBMG Capital, and Julianne Poindexter at Barrett Financial Group. All four are on my preferred vendors page.

Greensboro Is Green in Ways That Actually Matter

I am not going to wrap this up with buzzwords. What I will say is this: Greensboro is a city that has been quietly doing the work for a long time. The Downtown Greenway took 25 years and a lot of community stubbornness to finish. Architectural Salvage has been rescuing building materials for years. Reconsidered Goods has kept mountains of craft supplies out of dumpsters. Proximity Hotel built something no other hotel had built before and then kept improving it. Chez Genèse built an employment model around inclusion and made the croissants exceptional at the same time.

And a lot of us who live here are just trying to keep things small, local, and honest. That is what Watsucker Urban Farm is about. That is what my rentals are about. That is what hopping on an e-bike with your partner on a May afternoon and finally riding the completed loop is about.

If you want to stay in Greensboro with people who actually live here, I would love to have you. Browse all rentals here. And if you have questions about buying or investing in this city, reach out anytime.

Joy Watson, Realtor® | Joy Watson Real Estate
Serving Greensboro, NC and the Piedmont Triad
(928) 699-8883 | joy@joywatsonrealestate.com
License #307423 | Firm License #C37131
Equal Housing Opportunity 🏠

Greensboro, North Carolina, is a beacon of sustainability, blending Southern hospitality with eco-friendly innovation. Known as the "Green in Greensboro," the city boasts pioneering green businesses and initiatives, from luxury hotels to cost-effective, eco-conscious rentals. Whether you’re visiting or relocating, discover Greensbor0’s top sustainable stays, dining, and businesses that keep both the planet and your wallet green.

Proximity Hotel: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality

Proximity Hotel sets a global standard for eco-friendly hospitality as the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified hotel by the U.S. Green Building Council. Its signature feature is a solar water heating system, with 100 panels across 4,000 square feet, powering 60% of the hotel’s hot water—equivalent to 100 homes’ energy. This innovation makes Proximity a leader in sustainable luxury.

The hotel employs over 70 green practices:

  • Energy Efficiency: Consumes 41% less energy and 33% less water than comparable hotels, using high-efficiency materials and Kohler plumbing.

  • Regenerative Elevator: Features North America’s first Otis Gen2 Regenerative Drive elevator, recycling energy into the building’s grid.

  • Recycled Materials: Includes a bistro bar from salvaged walnut trees and Plyboo (bamboo plywood) trays; 87% of construction waste was recycled.

  • Stream Restoration: Restored 700 feet of a nearby stream with native plants, 376 tons of boulders, and 18 logs to reduce erosion and boost ecosystems.

Guests enjoy complimentary bicycles to explore Greensboro’s 75-mile greenway trails, promoting low-carbon travel. The adjacent Print Works Bistro, also LEED Platinum-certified, sources local ingredients for sustainable dining.


Joy Watson Real Estate: Eco-Friendly Rentals with More Space and Savings

For travelers seeking a sustainable, cost-effective alternative to hotels, Joy Watson Real Estate offers eco-friendly short-term, mid-term, and long-term (12-month) rentals in Greensboro. Unlike luxury hotels, Joy Watson’s pet-friendly, fully furnished properties—like Sisters, Library of Ivy and Ellie, Hunsucker’s Place, Granma Dotties and Mamaw Uschies—provide larger living spaces at lower rates, letting guests keep more "green" in their pockets. With nightly rates at Dottie and Uschies private rooms upstairs in the home where Joy and Eric live starting at $50 for private rooms (e.g., Grandma Dottie’s) and starting at $100 per night for full homes (e.g., Hunsucker’s Place), these rentals offer unbeatable value compared to Proximity’s premium pricing.

Led by Joy Watson, a licensed NC real estate agent and master gardener, the business prioritizes sustainability. Properties feature eco-friendly materials like 100% cotton sheets, energy-efficient appliances, and access to Watsucker Urban Farm, a community hub teaching sustainable gardening, life and job skills to students with learning differences. Joy drives a 2014 Prius to reduce emissions, and rentals are designed for eco-conscious guests, with recycling programs and low-impact amenities. Located within walking distance of downtown Greensboro, these curated homes are ideal for families, remote workers, or corporate relocations, offering a greener, more affordable stay.

Greensboro’s Green Initiatives and Sustainable Businesses

Greensboro’s eco-friendly ethos extends citywide, with sustainable businesses and initiatives complementing stays at Joy Watson Real Estate and Proximity Hotel. Here are key contributors to the "Green in Greensboro."

Greensboro’s Greenway and Trails

Greensboro’s 75-mile trail and greenway network encourages biking and walking, reducing carbon emissions. The 4-mile Downtown Greenway connects neighborhoods and attractions, making it easy for Joy Watson Real Estate guests to explore sustainably. Learn more at greensboro-nc.gov. Joy and Eric got E-bikes in April 2025, and love riding on these paved trails all over Greensboro.


NC GreenTravel Initiative

Greensboro shines in North Carolina’s GreenTravel Initiative, recognizing businesses for sustainability. Proximity Hotel leads, while the Greensboro Botanical Gardens, near Joy Watson’s rentals, showcases native plants and educates on local ecosystems.

Eco-Friendly Plumbing and HVAC Services

NG Plumbing, Heating & Air, a Joy Watson Real Estate preferred vendor, supports Greensboro’s green homes with tankless water heaters, reducing energy use. Their services align with the eco-friendly features of Joy Watson’s rentals.

Community Recycling and Waste Reduction

Greensboro’s recycling programs mirror the efforts of Joy Watson Real Estate and Proximity Hotel, which recycles 75% of its waste. Proximity’s construction used 90% recycled steel, and 87% of waste was diverted from landfills, setting a standard for local businesses.

Red Collection: Sustainable Fashion and Decor

Red Collection another JWRE preferred vendor, promotes a circular economy with high-end consignment furniture and fashion, reducing waste and offering sustainable home decor options for rental guests. Two locations. Both are great!

  • Address: 1201 Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407 second location on Mill St across from Bargain Box Jr. League Thrift

  • Phone: (336) 297-0900

  • Website: redcollection.com

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro: Preserving History

Architectural Salvage of Greensboro (ASG), a preferred vendor a Preservation Greensboro project, reclaims historic materials, diverting over 20 tons from landfills annually. Their showroom offers vintage items like doors and chandeliers. Call ahead to confirm hours. We love this place and Bill Dawkins keeps making it better!!

Reconsidered Goods: Creative Reuse Center

Reconsidered Goods, a preferred vendor and a non-profit, diverts materials from landfills for artists and educators. Their store and studio offer sustainable supplies, inspiring creativity among Greensboro visitors. Eric

Sustainable Dining: Farm-to-Table Restaurants

Greensboro’s farm-to-table restaurants pair perfectly with eco-friendly stays, sourcing local ingredients to reduce emissions. Top picks include:

  • Cille and Scoe: Modern Southern cuisine from their 60-acre farm.

    • Address: 312 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401

    • Phone: (336) 522-5144

    • Website: cilleandscoe.com

  • Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen: Seasonal Southern dishes with local ingredients.

    • Address: 1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408

    • Phone: (336) 370-0707

    • Website: lucky32.com

  • Undercurrent Restaurant: New American fare with local sourcing.

  • Chez Genèse: French-inspired dining with community focus and local ingredients.

    • Address: 616 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27406

    • Phone: (336) 663-8389

    • Website: chezgenese.com

  • Tessa Farm to Fork: Rustic dishes with homegrown produce.

    • Address: 3900 N Church St, Greensboro, NC 27455

    • Phone: (336) 285-7796

    • Website: tessagreensboro.com

  • Farmside Kitchen: Nutrient-rich bowls with local farm partnerships.

    • Address: 2132 Lawndale Dr, Greensboro, NC 27408

    • Phone: (336) 676-5750

    • Website: farmsidekitchen.com

Why Greensboro’s Green Initiatives Matter

Greensboro’s eco-friendly businesses, from Joy Watson Real Estate’s spacious, budget-friendly rentals to Proximity Hotel’s solar innovation, create a sustainable ecosystem. These efforts, alongside farm-to-table dining and reuse centers like Reconsidered Goods, reduce environmental impact and enhance community well-being. Green infrastructure, like restored streams and trails, ensures a vibrant future for Greensboro.

Plan Your Eco-Friendly Greensboro Stay

Experience the Green in Greensboro with a stay at Joy Watson Real Estate’s eco-friendly rentals, offering more space and savings than hotels. Book one of our rentals for a pet-friendly, sustainable home near downtown. Alternatively, enjoy luxury at Proximity Hotel or bike the greenway from either stay. Shop at Red Collection, browse Architectural Salvage, and dine at farm-to-table spots like Tessa Farm to Fork. For green travel tips, visit VisitNC.com or proximityhotel.com.

Greensboro blends sustainability and hospitality, keeping your wallet and the planet green. Book your eco-friendly stay today!

Joy Watson

Joy Watson – Owner/Broker at Joy Watson Real Estate. Local Non-Corporate Greensboro Realtor who loves historic homes, helping families, and building community.

https://JoyWatsonRealEstate.com
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