Greenest States (2026)

Eco-friendliness and personal finance are related. Our environmental and financial needs are the same in many areas: providing ourselves with sustainable, clean drinking water and food, for example. We also spend money through our own taxes in support of environmental security.

Last year, the U.S. experienced 27 weather and climate disasters that did $1 billion or more in damage each, with the total damage from all events adding up to $182.7 billion. While some disasters are unavoidable, others are exacerbated by humans.

We should all try to do our part to save the world for future generations. In order to highlight the greenest states and call out those doing a poor job of caring for the environment, WalletHub compared each of the 50 states based on 28 key metrics.

“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. 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.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Main Findings

Most Environmentally Friendly States

Note: *No. 1 = Greenest
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Air Quality

Highest

• T-1. Wyoming
• T-1. Hawaii
• 3. New Hampshire
• 4. South Dakota
• T-5. Alaska
• T-5. Maine

Lowest

• 46. Ohio
• T-47. Illinois
• T-47. Michigan
• T-47. Pennsylvania
• T-47. California

Best State vs. Worst State: 3x Difference

Wyoming vs. California

Water Quality

Highest

• 1. Hawaii
• 2. Delaware
• 3. South Dakota
• 4. North Dakota
• 5. Ohio

Lowest

• 46. New Mexico
• T-47. Louisiana
• T-47. Nevada
• T-47. Arkansas
• T-47. Rhode Island

Soil Quality

Highest

• T-1. Hawaii
• T-1. Michigan
• T-1. Minnesota
• T-1. Wisconsin
• T-5. New York
• T-5. South Dakota

Lowest

• T-46. Alaska
• T-46. Nevada
• 48. Wyoming
• 49. Rhode Island
• 50. New Mexico

Best State vs. Worst State: 27x Difference

Hawaii vs. New Mexico

LEED-Certified Buildings per Capita

Most

• 1. Maryland
• 2. Colorado
• 3. Massachusetts
• 4. Virginia
• 5. Washington

Fewest

• 46. Alabama
• 47. Mississippi
• 48. Oklahoma
• 49. Louisiana
• 50. West Virginia

Best State vs. Worst State: 9x Difference

Maryland vs. West Virginia

% of Renewable Energy Consumption

Highest

• T-1. South Dakota
• T-1. Iowa
• T-1. Maine
• T-1. Oregon
• T-1. Washington

Lowest

• 46. New Jersey
• 47. West Virginia
• 48. Louisiana
• 49. Delaware
• 50. Alaska

Best State vs. Worst State: 27x Difference

South Dakota vs. Alaska

Energy Consumption per Capita

Lowest

• 1. Rhode Island
• 2. California
• 3. New York
• 4. Vermont
• 5. Massachusetts

Highest

• 46. West Virginia
• T-47. Wyoming
• T-47. North Dakota
• T-47. Louisiana
• T-47. Alaska

Best State vs. Worst State: 6x Difference

Rhode Island vs. Alaska

Gasoline Consumption (in Gallons)

Lowest

• 1. New York
• 2. Hawaii
• 3. Illinois
• 4. Rhode Island
• 5. California

Highest

• 46. North Dakota
• 47. South Carolina
• 48. Wyoming
• 49. Mississippi
• 50. Alabama

Best State vs. Worst State: 2x Difference

New York vs. Alabama

Show More

In-Depth Look at the Greenest States

Vermont

Vermont is the greenest state in America, in part because it has the most organic-farm acreage per capita. Organic farms are ones that don’t hurt the environment through use of things like pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, herbicides and growth hormones, among others.

In addition, Vermont has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per capita and the third-lowest methane emissions per capita. These are two of the main greenhouse gasses that green policies seek to reduce.

The Green Mountain State is also paving the way for a future where more people drive clean vehicles, as it has the highest number of alternative fuel stations per capita. When it comes to actual adoption of alternative fuel vehicles, it ranks 14th in the country.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the second-greenest state and it has the second-least air pollution, according to the United Health Foundation. It also has the eighth-lowest overall energy consumption per capita, and the second-lowest gasoline consumption. The state’s robust public transportation helps reduce gas consumption, too. Plus, the state’s residential solar power installations have the highest capacity per capita compared to other states, contributing to its energy efficiency.

In addition, Hawaii has the highest recycling participation rate. The Aloha State also boasts the lowest drinking water violations in the country, highlighting its dedication to environmental preservation and public health.

California

California is the third-greenest state, having some of the lowest overall energy consumption and the fifth-lowest gasoline consumption per capita. One of the reasons for the low gas consumption is the fact that nearly 33% of California’s population uses green transportation (public transportation, carpools, biking or walking) to get to and from work, the ninth-highest percentage in the country.

The Golden State ranks among the top states when it comes to reducing emissions, too, having some of the lowest carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions per capita. Another major hallmark of its environmental leadership is energy efficiency, as California has the highest energy efficiency score in the country. This strong performance helps reduce overall energy consumption, lower utility costs for residents, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, further strengthening the state’s commitment to sustainability.

Blue States vs. Red States

Ask the Experts

For more insight into eco-friendliness at the household, government and global levels, we asked the following questions to a panel of environmental and economic experts. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What policies can state and local authorities pursue to make their communities more environmentally friendly?
2. Is there an inherent tradeoff between protecting the environment and promoting economic growth?
3. Research indicates that the current decade will be crucial for slowing heat-trapping emissions. In your opinion, how will the policies proposed by the Trump administration fare in combating climate change?
4. What is the single most impactful thing an individual can do to reduce their effect on the environment?
5. How much is the U.S. affected by climate change?

Ask the Experts

Andrew Burnstine
Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Business and Management - Lynn University
Read More

Scott Thorne
Ph.D., Instructor, Department of Marketing - Southeast Missouri State University
Read More

Anne Drougas
Ph.D., College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology, Associate Dean & Professor of Finance & Business Analytics, Brennan School of Business – Dominican University
Read More

Robert B. Richardson
Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources - Michigan State University
Read More

Shoshannah Lenski
Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Systems, School for Environment and Sustainability - University of Michigan
Read More

John Clinton
Ph.D. – Associate Professor/Founding Chair, Environmental Policy; former interim Dean, R.J. Milano Graduate School of Management, Policy, and Environment, The New School, New York City
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the greenest states, WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Environmental Quality, 2) Eco-Friendly Behaviors and 3) Climate-Change Contributions.

We evaluated those dimensions using 28 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of eco-friendliness.

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Environmental Quality – Total Points: 35

• Air Quality: Full Weight (~8.75 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the average exposure of the general public to particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) or less in size.
• Water Quality: Full Weight (~8.75 Points)
• Soil Quality: Full Weight (~8.75 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the difference between the median soil pH level and the optimal soil pH level.
• Energy-Efficiency Score: Full Weight (~8.75 Points)

Eco-Friendly Behaviors – Total Points: 35

• Green Buildings per Capita: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the number of LEED-certified buildings per capita.
• Total Capacity of Solar PV Systems Installed per Household: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: “PV” is an acronym for photovoltaic.
• Share of Renewable Energy Consumption: Triple Weight (~4.04 Points)
• Energy Consumption per Capita: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
• Gasoline Consumption (in Gallons) per Capita: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
• Daily Water Consumption per Capita: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
• Share of “Smart” Electricity Meters: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: Smart meters are energy meters with enhanced, two-way communication technology that provide information to energy providers and consumers about prices, usage patterns, and inefficiencies. The deployment of smart meters is an excellent example of better technology and better data being used to conserve energy, save money, and grow the economy. The total number of meters with advanced metering infrastructure (i.e., smart meters) across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors is divided by the total number of electricity meters across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
• Alternative-Fuel Vehicles per Capita: Double Weight (~2.69 Points)
  Note: Energy Information Administration (EIA) provides data for the number of alternative-fuel vehicles for these four fleets only: federal government agencies, state government agencies, transit agencies and fuel providers.
• Alternative-Fuel Stations per Capita: Double Weight (~2.69 Points)
• Green Transportation: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population who walk, bike, carpool, take public transportation or work from home.
• Average Commute Time by Car: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
• Certified Organic Farms per Capita: Triple Weight (~4.04 Points)
• Corporate Clean Energy Procurement Index Score: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: The index ranks all 50 U.S. states based upon the ease with which companies can procure RE (renewable energy) for their operations located within each state. The index consists of 15 indicators, broken into three categories:
  • UTILITY PURCHASING OPTIONS, which ranks states based upon the opportunities available to procure RE through utilities in the state, as well as looking at electric utility market factors;
  • THIRD-PARTY PURCHASING OPTIONS, where states are ranked by how readily companies can procure RE through third-party (i.e., non-utility) developers and other organizations;
  • ONSITE/DIRECT DEPLOYMENT OPTIONS, which analyzes states based upon how effectively companies can deploy RE onsite (such as rooftop solar panels) or through other direct purchasing options.
• State Renewable Portfolio Standards: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of renewable portfolio standards in the states. Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) requires that a specified percentage of the electricity that utilities sell comes from renewable resources.
• States with Electronic Waste Recycling Programs: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of e-waste recycling programs in the states.
• States with Multifamily Recycling Policies: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of multifamily recycling policies in the states.
• Water Efficiency and Sustainability Score: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This composed metric is based on data from Alliance for Water Efficiency’s “2022 State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability” report.
• Recycling Access: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: Access to recycling means having the ability to easily recycle all your recyclable items both because you have an active and convenient recycling service and your local program accepts all recyclable materials.
• Recycling Engagement: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: Program participation rates among the households with access to recycling.
• Residential Recycling Rates: Full Weight (~1.35 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to all recyclables and it also includes material captured through state deposit return systems (also known as “bottle bills”).

Climate-Change Contributions – Total Points: 30

• Carbon-Dioxide Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
• Methane Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
• Nitrous-Oxide Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)
• Fluorinated Greenhouse-Gas Emissions per Capita: Full Weight (~7.50 Points)

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of March 11, 2026 from the U.S. Census Bureau, United Health Foundation, International Plant Nutrition Institute, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Green Building Council, Department of Energy, United States Department of Agriculture, Information Technology Industry Council, National Conference of State Legislatures, Environmental Finance Blog, Alliance for Water Efficiency, Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Information Administration, The Recycling Partnership and U.S. Geological Survey.

Supporting Video Files:

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