( CNN ) -- Houston may be a city built on the profits of oil and gas , but it has a green dream . The dream is to create a city that is `` more liveable , walkable and bikeable , '' according Laura Spanjian . Spanjian has been the director of sustainability for Houston since 2010 , when current Mayor Annise Parker was elected . They have launched several sustainability initiatives under the `` Green Houston '' program and Parker says the city has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter . Spanjian 's previous work includes a solar-panel incentive program in San Francisco , as well as directing the creation of its alternative-fuel bus fleet . She spoke with CNN 's The City about the challenges Houston is facing and how she wants to get Houstonians out of their cars and out on the streets . CNN : Why is Houston trying to be more sustainable ? Laura Spanjian : We are known as producing oil and gas , but we also produce other resources that are important to our economy and to the sustainability . For us it 's about being green , but it 's also about saving resources and money and being a very efficient and affordable city . The number one thing to think about is trying to improve the health and the quality of life of the citizens . CNN : Does Houston have any geographical advantages or disadvantages ? LS : Houston is a very hot and humid city , so there 's a lot of air conditioning which leads to buildings consuming a lot of energy . We want to work on an initiative trying to get people out of their cars and to use less energy in their homes . That can prove to be quite the challenge . An advantage we have is that we can make great use of the wind . Texas is the largest wind ( power ) producer in the U.S. ; we now produce 12,000 megawatts of wind ( power ) . CNN : If you had a magic wand , how would you use it for your work ? LS : I would want every building to reduce their energy usage by 20 % by 2020 . I 'd love that . I would also love more people to commute less to work , by living closer or by using alternative transportation . Houston is still very much a car city . CNN : Where does your passion for the environment come from ? LS : I care about the quality of life ; the air we breathe and the water we drink . I think it 's really imperative for governments to create healthy cities so people can go out and do other great things . If you increase the health of citizens , it automatically makes cities more attractive , which in turn brings more people to cities , which improves the economy . A lot of people have told me that they came to Houston for a job , but stayed because the city is starting to focus on the quality of life . CNN : What difficulties have you encountered ? LS : We have lots of issues with hurricanes but the thing we had n't had an issue with before was droughts like the one we had two years ago . It definitely made us think about how we build infrastructure and how we can try to forecast and prepare for extreme weather events . We need to realize that it 's not just going to be storms in the future . The climate can change on a dime . CNN : How far have you come in your work ? LS : Right now we are experiencing a boom when it comes to transportation . Three more rail lines will open next year . We have also started planning for a bus rapid transit line , so we are encouraging the use of electric vehicles . CNN : What goals do you want to achieve by 2020 ? LS : We are going to see a more liveable , walkable and bikeable Houston , and a population that is craving that and nothing less . Reduced energy usage , increased transportation options and generally a greener city . Our streets will work differently . With density comes the desire for streets to look differently , to accommodate restaurants , bike lanes and be aesthetically pleasing at the same time . The more you change your streets and try to open them up , the more people are outside , so it 's exciting !
Ambitious plans to make Houston a more sustainable city . Laura Spanjian is the director of sustainability for Houston . She tells CNN she wants to create city that is `` more liveable , walkable and bikeable ''