Categories: News

Philly is #15th Greenest City in USA

The city of brotherly love continues to battle it out in the greenest city ranks.

Philadelphia has been named the #15 greenest city of 2015 in a report by Wallethub.

We were beat by top 5 cities (in descending order), Honolulu, Washington DC, San Fran, Portland and NEW YORK. (Seriously, New York?!?! GREENEST?!)

Cities were ranked based on “1) Environmental Quality, 2) “Greenness” of Transportation, 3) “Greenness” of Energy Sources and 4) Green Lifestyle & Local Policies”. (Note to Wallethub: “greenness” isn’t a word, and the term green is passé as it is… coming from a website that has “green” in our name.) Their full methodology is on their website (link above).

We’ll give it to NYC that basically no one drives (which is why they ranked #1 for the lowest numbers of commuters that drive), but Philly was left off the “bike score”, which we disagree with – since Philly’s been the #1 bike commuting city for several years now.

Here’s how Philly shook out in ranking:

Philadelphia “Green” Rankings (according to Wallethub)

  • 31st – % of Green Space
  • 9th – % of Commuters Who Drive
  • 11th – Bike Score
  • 13th – Number of Farmers Markets per Capita
  • 6th – Walk Score

Not that Wallethub’s the expert in environmental rankings (after all, they’re a “Personal Finance Resource?” that comes out with a ton of rankings that Philly Mag often eagerly writes about), but we love seeing our city in any top-tier regardless.

Readers, what do you think of Wallethub’s ranking? Tell us in the comments. 

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

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