Connecticut is a Top 10 Eco-Friendly State

Get up Connecticut! It’s Earth Day and we have reason to celebrate. According to a study released this week by WalletHub, an Evolution Finance company, Connecticut was ranked the 9th most eco-friendly state in the nation.

For the study, 2015’s Most & Least Eco-Friendly States, WalletHub used data from both government sources and independent scientific organizations, and compared the 50 states based on 14 key metrics, which were separated into two main groups: Environmental Quality and Eco-Friendly Behaviors.

Environmental Quality considers the current state of the environment in each area, while Eco-Friendly Behaviors evaluates the environmental impact of population habits. Below are the 14 key metrics and the weights assigned to each.

Environmental QualityTotal Weight: 5

Carbon Dioxide Emissions per Capita (or “Carbon Footprints”): Full Weight

Total Municipal Solid Waste per Capita: Full Weight

Air Quality (Average Exposure of the General Public to Particulate Matter of 2.5 Microns or Less in Size (PM2.5)): Full Weight

Water Quality: Full Weight

Soil Quality (Median Soil pH): Full Weight

Eco-Friendly BehaviorsTotal Weight: 5

Number of Green (LEED) Buildings per Capita: Full Weight

Percentage of Energy Consumption from Renewable Sources: Full Weight

Energy Consumption per Capita: Full Weight

Energy Efficiency Scorecard: Full Weight

Gasoline Consumption per Capita (in Gallons): Full Weight

Water Consumption per Capita per Day (Domestic): Full Weight

Number of Alternative Fueled Vehicles per Capita: Half Weight

Green Transportation (Percentage of the Population that Walks, Bikes, Carpools, Takes Public Transportation or Works from Home): Full Weight

Percentage of Municipal Solid Waste Recycled: Full Weight

A few of Connecticut’s highlights include,

Connecticut’s Eco-Friendliness

6th – Carbon Dioxide Emissions per Capita

7th – Total Municipal Solid Waste per Capita

19thAir Quality

6thEnergy Efficiency Scorecard

13thGasoline Consumption per Capita

Data Sources: Data used to create these rankings were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Green Building Council, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the American Chemistry Council, the Environmental Working Group, the International Plant Nutrition Institute and the United Health Foundation.