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For this Earth Day, recognizing that cities across the country are providing energy-efficient, least polluting and healthy living spaces, The Green Guide presents the environmental leaders, those cities whose green achievements set the standard for others. As The New York Times has reported, in the absence of federal direction, cities across the country are taking environmental stewardship into their own hands and reducing their burden on the planet. Mayors are even working to lower greenhouse gases: As of March 28, 2006, 220 had signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which now covers urban areas housing 43.8 million Americans.

Our metro areas can be the focus of many ills—from layers of asthma-inducing smog to pesticide exposures and gas-wasting sprawl. Yet, being tightly packed also allows them to run more efficient public transportation and creates a tax-base for green building and environmental programs smaller communities can't afford. Thomas Jefferson famously expressed his distrust of cities, but now, along with community gardens and other green spaces, some of the rural virtues he extolled have finally found their way into urban life.

Last year on Earth Day, The Green Guide recognized 10 green cities and a handful of runners up. This year, in response to widespread interest, we pursued a more comprehensive evaluation, ranking each city on its performance over several criteria. We sent out surveys to mayors' offices in all 251 metropolitan areas with populations of 100,000 or more. By scoring survey responses in combination with information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and other independent sources, we came up with our ranked list of the top 25 green cities in the U.S., giving special recognition to the top 10.

The Criteria

In compiling the list, we gave points in the following categories:

Air Quality, Electricity Use and Production, Environmental Perspective, Environmental Policy, Green Design, Green Space, Public Health, Recycling, Socioeconomic Factors, Transportation & Water Quality

Each of these factors was equally weighted, with a maximum score of 1 point per criterion, to create an overall maximum possible score of 11 points, though only one city we looked at scored 9 or better... EUGENE, OR

^#1 Eugene, Oregon ^{(score 9.0375, pop. 137,893)}

First on our list is the university town, Eugene, well known as a powerhouse of green industry, clustering sustainable businesses like an environmentally minded Silicon Valley. Nestled in the Willamette River Valley with views of the Cascade Mountains, residents enjoy numerous bike trails, clean air and water, parkland and outlying wilderness areas. Hydroelectric and wind power contribute over 85 percent of Eugene's power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions considerably. A little over 16 percent of Eugene is green space, including athletic fields, city parks, public gardens, trails and waterfront. The city has over 2,500 acres of publicly owned wetlands, and its West Eugene Wetlands Program includes a mitigation bank, a native plant nursery, protected wetlands and educational features.

"Overall, we have a reputation for protecting the environment and that reflects a commitment throughout the city organization to look for ways of becoming more sustainable," says Jim Carlson, assistant city manager, citing the city's biodiesel and hybrid fleets, its evaluation of all city activities for environmental impact and the mayor's sustainable business initiative to green the local economy. And Carlson notes that "In next year's budget, we're planning to purchase 25 percent wind power for all existing general fund buildings such as libraries and city hall."

The Green Guide's Top Green Cities At a Glance

The Top 10
1. Eugene, OR (score 9.0375, pop. 137,893)
2. Austin, TX (score 8.5325, pop. 656,562)
3. Portland, OR (score 8.24, pop. 529,121)
4. St. Paul, MN (score 7.805, pop. 287,151)
5. Santa Rosa, CA (score 7.785, pop. 147,595)
6. Oakland, CA (score 7.3675, pop. 399,484)
7. Berkeley, CA (score 7.285, pop. 102,743)
8. Honolulu, HI (score 7.055, pop. 371,657)
9. Huntsville, AL (score 7.035, pop. 158,216)
10. Denver, CO (score 7.0325, pop. 554,636)

The Green Guide's Top Green Cities At a Glance

The Top 10