America’s Greenest Cities
Posted by Bryan Lauer, LEED AP in GoGreen on 29-08-2009
The following is taken from a study conducted by Elizabeth Svoboda, with additional reporting by Eric Mika and Saba Berhie, called America’s 50 Greenest Cities
Have you ever wondered what the “greenest” cities in the US were? The following rank of green cities is based on Electricity (E), Transportation (T), Green Living (G), Recycling and green perspective (R). Electricity (10 points) is based on renewable energy use; Transportation (10 points) is based on commuters who take public transportation or carpool, air quality is also a factor; Green Living (5 points) is based on the number of USGBC LEED Certified buildings and green space (parks & preserves); Recycling & Green Perspective (5 points) is a measure of a city’s recycling program and citizens consideration for the environment.
1. Portland, OR - E – 7.1; T – 6.4; G – 4.8; R – 4.8
2. San Fransisco, CA – E – 6.8; T – 8.8; G – 3.5; R – 3.9
3. Boston, MA – E – 5.7; T – 8.7; G – 3.4; R – 4.9
4. Oakland, CA – E – 7; T – 7.5; G – 3.1; R – 4.9
5. Eugene, OR – E – 10; T – 4.7; G – 2.9; R – 4.8
6. Cambridge, MA – E – 6.1; T – 7.5; G – 3.9; R – 4.7
7. Berkeley, CA – E – 6.2; T – 8.4; G – 2.9; R – 4.7
8. Seattle, WA – E – 6.2; T – 7.3; G – 4.7; R – 3.9
9. Chicago, IL – E – 5.4; T – 7.3; G – 5.0; R – 3.6
10. Austin, TX - E – 6.9; T – 5.9; G – 3.3; R – 4.9
11. Minneapolis, MN – E – 7.8; T – 7.4; G – 2.8; R – 2.3
12. St. Paul, MN – E – 8; T – 4.0; G – 3.5; R – 4.7
13. Sunnyvale, CA – E – 7.3; T – 6.8; G – 2.2; R – 3.6
14. Honolulu, HA – E – 6.0; T – 7.8; G – 2.6; R – 3.5
15. Fort Worth, TX – E – 8.3; T – 4.6; G – 2.4; R – 4.4
16. Albuquerque, NM – E – 7.6; T – 5.5; G – 2.4; R – 3.6
17. Syracuse, NY – E – 7; T – 4.9; G – 2.6; R – 4.4
18. Huntsville, AL – E – 6.2; T – 4.1; G – 3.6; R – 4.5
19. Denver, CO – E – 5.9; T – 5.2; G – 3; R – 4.1
20 New York, NY – E – 2.8; T – 10; G – 3.4; R – 2
21. Irvine, CA – E – 4.2; T – 6.8; G – 2.9; R – 4.2
22. Milwaukee, WI – E – 5; T – 4.9; G – 3.1; R – 4.3
23. Santa Rosa, CA – E – 7; T – 3.4; G – 2.4; $ – 4.4
24. Ann Arbor, MI - E – 4.6; T – 4.8; G – 2.9; R – 4.9
25. Lexington, KY – E – 5.9; T – 3.6; G – 2.3; R – 5
26. Tulsa, OK - E – 5; T – 3.9; G – 3.4; R – 4.4
27. Rochester, NY – E – 4.5; T – 4.4; G – 3.1; R – 4.1
28. Riverside, CA – E – 7.5; T – 3.1; G – 2.1; R – 3.3
29. Springfield, IL - E – 5.3; T – 3; G – 3.2; R – 4.2
30. Alexandra, VA – E – 2.7; T – 6.3; G – 3.1; R – 3.6
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