The urban impact of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been discussed again and again but the larger question of how the games will affect the environment remains unanswered.

Glasgow's standing as a 'green city' was one of its key bargaining points when bidding for the games. The city boosts over 70 public parks, air quality that exceeds recommended standards and a commitment to renewable energy and sustainable development. The organisers of the event are dedicated to making Glasgow 2014 the greenest games to date.

Councillor Archie Graham, Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow City Council commented: "The Games will leave the city an environmental and sustainable legacy, including improved land and air quality and innovative approaches to energy use and recycling."

The city council has committed to making free public transport available to all games ticket holders, and to making all games venues car free, actively reducing the games carbon footprint. High technology vehicles will also be employed within the environmentally friendly new Athlete's Village .

The Village itself has been constructed on the once rundown 50 acre site on London Road and its 750 homes will produce up to 60% less carbon due to cutting energy demand by being airtight and insulated. The energy center constructed to support the homes, as well as the Emirates arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will also help the city achieve its commitment to sustainability throughout the games.

When the games end the Village will then become 758 houses and flats and 120-bed care home, the new community is expected to help transform the East End of Glasgow.

Environmental costs of new buildings of the games has also been kept down by adapting existing buildings with Hampden Park being becoming a world class athletics stadium and the SECC being converted from an exhibition center into a sports venue. Renewable sources of energy are also being employed where possible to help power the venues for the Games.

Detailed green analysis of the 16 venues shows no venue producing a negative impact on the environment, with some even having a distinctly positive impact. There are also plans to have 80% of the waste from the games diverted from landfill sites, which will be used as example as to future plans for Glasgow's increased use of alternative methods of disposal such as recycling and composting.