America’s 50 Greenest Cities | Popular Science Annotated

How the Rankings Work:

We used raw data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society’s Green Guide, which collected survey data and government statistics for American cities of over 100,000 people in more than 30 categories, including air quality, electricity use and transportation habits. We then compiled these statistics into four broad categories, each scored out of either 5 or 10 possible points.

Electricity

Transportation

Green living

Recycling and green perspective

1. Portland, Ore.

America’s top green city has it all: Half its power comes from renewable sources, a quarter of the workforce commutes by bike, carpool or public transportation, and it has 35 buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

2. San Francisco, Calif.

3. Boston, Mass.

9. Chicago

10. Austin, Tex.

11. Minneapolis, Minn.

17. Syracuse, N.Y.

19. Denver, Colo.

20. New York, N.Y.

22. Milwaukee, Wis

31. St. Louis, Mo.

35. Kansas City, Mo.