Top 10 Most Sustainable Cities

ACEEE Ranks Most Energy-Efficient Cities

Here’s where you want to live if you drive an electric car. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has been measuring the energy-efficiency of the 51 major American cities for several years. Among the criteria to be a top pick is an active transportation policy that is designed to make their cities more compact and closer to transit options, shifts to efficient modes of transportation, transit investments, efficient vehicles and vehicle infrastructure, and energy-efficient freight transport.

This year’s rankings were just released and there are some surprises. Here are the top 10:

1. Boston
2. New York City

   

3. Seattle
4. Los Angeles
5. Portland (tied for #4)
6. Austin
7. Chicago
8. Washington, DC
9. Denver
10. San Francisco (tied for #9)

In addition to their transportation activities, cities were judged on their local government efficiency, community-wide initiatives (for energy diversification and decentralization), building policies (stringent energy codes and incentives) and efficient energy utilities.

Another group of cities were cited as those showing the most improvement, including San Diego, Kansas City, Phoenix and Orlando (LA was also among the most improved).

Among the actions the cities’ representatives called out as reasons for their success were using renewable or cleaner-burning fuels in city vehicles, boosting bus service and light rail, and adding infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations.

At the other end of the list, five cities were noted as most in need of improvement—Hartford, Memphis, Detroit, Oklahoma City and Birmingham.