zooming in
Here's how Texas ranks among the list of the greenest states in the U.S.
It might only be Texas' grass that is green.
A list of the "greenest" states in the U.S. reveals that Texas has some work to do.
A report from WalletHub looked at 25 key metrics — from green buildings per capita to energy consumption from renewable resources — to evaluate the environmental friendliness of the 50 states and their residents.
Texas ranked No. 38, meaning it was the thirteenth least green state, only scoring 50.40 points out of 100.
In its favor, Texas is making headway on solar energy, which just surpassed coal as an energy source, according to a report from the Institute For Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. But the Lone Star State still has lots of room for improvement.
Here's how Texas ranked among a few of the key metrics:
- No. 35 for air quality
- No. 38 for soil quality
- No. 38 for water quality
- No. 26 for LEED-certified buildings per capita
- No. 32 for percent of renewable energy consumption
- No. 45 for energy consumption per capita
- No. 38 for gasoline consumption (in gallons) per capita
California was ranked as the greenest state, with Vermont, New York, Maryland, and Washington, respectively, rounding out the top five.
The country's least green state is West Virginia, followed by Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
The report also zeroed in on how politics play into a state's climate system. Democrat-led states ranked around No. 15 on average, whereas Republican states fell at around No. 36.
WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe says in the report that, beyond the benefit to the planet, being enviro-friendly is good for humans, too.
“It’s important for every American to do their part to support greener living and protect our environment. However, it’s much easier being green in some states than others," Happe writes. "For example, if a state doesn’t have a great infrastructure for alternative-fuel vehicles, it becomes much harder for residents to adopt that technology. Living in a green state is also very beneficial for the health of you and your family, as you benefit from better air, soil and water quality.”
---
This report originally appeared on our sister site, EnergyCapitalHTX.
