The 'Greenest' City in America, According to New Study
Environmentalism is a key issue for many voters, both on a national and local level. As a result, green initiatives have become a focal point for governments around the country.
Not all cities are created equal when it comes to being "green." A new study from WalletHub has attempted to categorize the "greenest" cities in America, analyzing more than 100 municipalities across 28 "green" criteria, including energy policies, local green initiatives, greenhouse gas emissions and more.
“There are plenty of things that individuals can do to adopt a green lifestyle, from recycling to sharing rides to installing solar panels on their homes," said WalletHub's Chip Lupo. "However, living in one of the greenest cities can make it even easier to care for the environment, due to sustainable laws and policies, access to locally-grown produce and infrastructure that allows residents to use vehicles less often. The greenest cities also are better for your health due to superior air and water quality.”
When it comes to "green" living, the west coast is best, with eight of the top 10 "greenest" cities coming from the left side of the country.
The 10 'Greenest' Cities in the United States
- San Jose, California
- Washington, D.C.
- Oakland, California
- Irvine, California
- San Francisco, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- San Diego, California
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Portland, Oregon
- Seattle, Washington
San Jose reigns supreme
San Jose, with a population of just under one million, earns WalletHub's top marks, thanks in large part to 47% of the city's electricity coming from renewable resources, the fifth-highest percentage in the country.
"One big positive impact of San Jose’s green practices is that it has the fourth-lowest Urban Heat Island Effect Index in the country," WalletHub continued. "What that means is there’s only a relatively small amount of difference between the average temperature in the city and its less-developed immediate surroundings. In other words, the use of green energy in San Jose helps keep it from being an excessively hot city environment."
San Jose also bans plastic bags and has a city bike-sharing program, among other regulations designed to protect the environment.
You can read the full findings from WalletHub right here.