The Greenest and Least Green Cities in America
In an effort to identify the most and least environmentally friendly cities in America, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 28 "green" indicators. The data used for this comparison was compiled as of September 4, 2024.
How the Ranking Was Determined
The greenest cities were determined by comparing the 100 most populated cities in the United States across four key dimensions:
1) Environment: This included factors such as air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Transportation: Factors considered here included the number of commuters traveling alone, biking scores, and walking scores.
3) Energy Sources: This dimension looked at the share of renewable energy sources.
4) Lifestyle & Policy: This included factors such as community gardens and green job opportunities. Recycling efforts were not considered in this dimension.
The Results: West Coast Dominates, Arizona Falls Short
The results showed a clear dominance of California cities in the top 10 greenest cities. On the other hand, Arizona didn't fare as well, with four of its cities landing in the bottom 10.
Struggles for Southern and Rust Belt Cities
Major metropolitan areas in the South and Rust Belt, including Houston and Detroit, also ranked low in terms of their green efforts.
Bottom Line
It's clear from these rankings that some cities are making more of an effort to be environmentally friendly than others. The West Coast, particularly California, seems to be leading the way in green initiatives. However, cities in Arizona, the South, and the Rust Belt appear to be struggling in this regard.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do you live in one of these cities? How does your city fare in terms of being environmentally friendly? Share this article with your friends and see what they think. And don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
The Greenest and Least Green Cities in America
In an effort to identify the most and least environmentally friendly cities in America, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 28 "green" indicators. The data used for this comparison was compiled as of September 4, 2024.
How the Ranking Was Determined
The greenest cities were determined by comparing the 100 most populated cities in the United States across four key dimensions:
1) Environment: This included factors such as air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
2) Transportation: Factors considered here included the number of commuters traveling alone, biking scores, and walking scores.
3) Energy Sources: This dimension looked at the share of renewable energy sources.
4) Lifestyle & Policy: This included factors such as community gardens and green job opportunities. Recycling efforts were not considered in this dimension.
The Results: West Coast Dominates, Arizona Falls Short
The results showed a clear dominance of California cities in the top 10 greenest cities. On the other hand, Arizona didn't fare as well, with four of its cities landing in the bottom 10.
Struggles for Southern and Rust Belt Cities
Major metropolitan areas in the South and Rust Belt, including Houston and Detroit, also ranked low in terms of their green efforts.
Bottom Line
It's clear from these rankings that some cities are making more of an effort to be environmentally friendly than others. The West Coast, particularly California, seems to be leading the way in green initiatives. However, cities in Arizona, the South, and the Rust Belt appear to be struggling in this regard.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do you live in one of these cities? How does your city fare in terms of being environmentally friendly? Share this article with your friends and see what they think. And don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
