Our guide, 10 Strategies for Sustainable Construction was created as a quick reference to remind construction professionals about good principles that can be incorporated into virtually any project that has sustainability requirements.

Scan the guide for headlines, bring it into the field, or pass it on to a colleague or to a client. If you need more help or an estimate for services you can write to us at .

View the full guide

Building envelopes are the gateway between a building's interior and exterior. They're vital for a building's aesthetics, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and overall performance.

To ensure a building’s envelope is performing as intended, envelope commissioning, a comprehensive quality assurance process, is utilized. Through design and submittal reviews, field inspections, testing, and ongoing monitoring, envelope commissioning helps to meet specific performance criteria.

Our seasoned building envelope commissioning pro and firm Principal, Bala Srini, shares his knowledge and insights, including how to combine strategies to develop a comprehensive and integrated approach. Whether you're a building owner, operator, architect, or designer, you can employ the following strategies to ensure your building envelope meets the desired performance criteria.

1. Establish clear goals: To begin envelope commissioning, set clear goals and performance targets. These goals can be based on site potentials, climatic conditions, heat island reduction targets, optimizing energy use, environmentally preferable products, enhancing indoor environmental quality, and optimizing operations and maintenance.

2. Conduct a comprehensive design review: Review the building envelope design to ensure it aligns with established goals and performance targets. The design review identifies challenging problems early before construction, saving costs and time. Assess key issues, such as orientation-based facades, facade fenestrations, glazing types, continuous thermal barriers, water drainage plane, waterproofing vapor drive, continuous air barriers, roof and wall junctions, sealants, openings, and penetrations.

3. Pre-Construction: Identify mock-ups, mock-up testing, product submittal reviews, construction checklists, and finalize the performance testing list for the project.

4. Conduct inspections and testing: Site inspections are crucial to identify any potential envelope performance issues before the envelope is closed with finishing materials. Testing may include air leakage testing, thermal imaging, and moisture testing to confirm that the envelope is performing as intended.

5. Identify and address performance issues: Raise issues log and follow-up to address any deficiencies that arise during construction inspections. Testing can validate performance and identify problems. Possible solutions include adjusting the design or construction of the envelope, such as sealing air leaks, adding insulation, or improving ventilation.

6. Monitor performance: After completing the envelope commissioning process, continue to monitor the performance of the envelope to ensure it maintains established goals and performance targets. Regular testing and inspections are necessary to catch any issues that arise and make necessary adjustments.

7. Engage stakeholders: Involve stakeholders, including building owners, operators, and occupants, throughout the envelope commissioning process. This participation ensures that all parties are aware of the goals and objectives and can provide valuable feedback during the process.

By combining all the strategies for envelope commissioning, you can develop a comprehensive and effective approach that improves the energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality of the building envelope. It is important to have a systematic and integrated approach to ensure that all the steps are followed, and that the envelope performs as intended.

For more resources, check out our Knowledge Base.

Looking for project support? Get in touch to see what our team of multidisciplinary consultants can do for you.

The White House has released a guidebook for navigating the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bills, which were recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden.

 

GREEN ENERGY INCENTIVES

There are new incentives and rebates for energy efficiency updates to new and existing buildings. New construction projects performing 25%-50% better than ASHRAE 90.1 are eligible to receive a corresponding, sliding-scale 179D deduction of $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot.

 

STRATEGIES FOR MEETING STANDARDS AND SECURING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. Design For Efficiency

Incorporate energy-efficient design principles and technologies into new construction and retrofit projects to meet the requirements for the 179D tax deduction and the Federal Building Performance Standard.

2. Seek Funding

Look into funding opportunities offered by the DOE's building energy code implementation program and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reductions fund to support buildings.

3. Collaborate

Collaborate with sustainability consultants, such as Above Green to simulate building energy performance and optimize your 179D deductions.

 

Does your project qualify for tax deductions under the new Climate Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act? Sign up for a complimentary consultation to walk through the incentives and learn more about the qualification process.

It's a new year and the construction industry is rising to the challenge of meeting higher consumer expectations with a shrinking workforce and increased costs.

We predict utilizing technology and focusing on eco-conscious design will reign supreme in 2023.

Here are our top 5 predictions for the year.

1. Green Building
   Building operations and construction create nearly 40 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. With increasing awareness of the severity of climate change's impact on the environment, people's health, safety, and assets, corporate investors, building owners, homeowners and renters alike are showing a growing demand for greener, healthier, sustainable real estate.
   
   Year over year, green buildings are consistently delivering higher returns on investment compared to their non-green counterparts.
   Green building certifications demonstrate a building’s green attributes. We believe there will be an increased demand for the following certificates in 2023:

   - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
   - Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEM)
   - ENERGY STAR for buildings

2. Modular Design
   As we predicted for 2022, the modular design and prefabricated materials market is continuing to grow in 2023 and beyond. Industry experts forecast the market to balloon in value to $120 billion by 2027. General contractors and owners are leaning towards prefabricated methods of design because it provides flexibility in the structure.
   
   Unlike traditional materials and building sites where waste goes directly to a landfill, prefabricated materials are recyclable. Demountable partitions allow offices to enhance daylight and insulation for improved energy efficiencies, while reducing the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and air quality concerns associated with traditional drywall and finishing.
   
   3. Biophilic Design
   Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants closely with nature. It mimics outdoor environments’ shapes, textures and colors to make occupants feel more in tune with nature. This style continues to gain more relevancy with designers and architects incorporating it into the places we live and work.
   
   Green infrastructure has the potential to attenuate CO2 emissions, increase the biodiversity of plants and wildlife, help regulate the temperature of buildings, all while enhancing the occupant's experience in the space. 

   4. Design Technology
   The most popular tech utilized by the industry today, Building Information Modeling (BIM) enables project teams to optimize design. Using BIM, project members can create virtual building models and perform virtual walkthroughs to pinpoint issues before contractors even break ground.
   
   As a whole, this design technology offers a more safe, efficient, and accurate approach to the design process, so we expect to see more project teams leveraging it this year and in the future.
   
   
   5. Artificial Intelligence
   Another technology we expect to see on the rise in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The construction industry has much to benefit from AI to improve profitability, performance, and project safety.
   
   One of the six subsets of AI, Machine Learning, can make predictions on the best layout and recommend cuts to unnecessary material.  Another subset, like Optimization could provide enhanced work schedules, cut materials costs, and/or improve energy efficiencies.
   
   With AI technology becoming more accessible and project teams seeing the benefits, we expect it to be leveraged more this year.

 

Looking for support with your 2023 project? Get in touch.

When it comes to sustainable gifting, it can be difficult to know where to start. Unlike traditional gift giving, sustainable gifts are about much more than just buying items that meet a certain criteria or sentiment.

Instead, it’s about making more conscious and considerate purchase so that the gift is used and not wasted.

From tech to furniture and home accessories, we’ve crafted a sustainable gift guide to help you shop for the design-forward home or office dweller on your list.

 

For the Gadget Lover

Sense

Did you know that you can monitor your energy use all on your own?

Energy monitoring devices like the Sense install in your home’s electrical panel and send you information about energy use and the specific energy loads in your home to better inform usage.

 

Nest Thermostat

Smart thermostats can help reduce energy use by cutting back heating or cooling while you are sleeping or when no one is home.

Before you get—or give—a smart thermostat, check for local utility incentives or rewards programs that reduce the purchase price or pay you to participate in peak demand reduction efforts.

 

Philips Hue

Smart lighting products use energy-efficient LEDs and can be as simple as a single connected light bulb or light switch, a set of decorative light panels, or a complex integrated lighting system for a room or entire home.

Users have the option to shift from conventional soft white light to a whole rainbow of colors, and also take advantage of a bunch of energy-saving features, such as timers, dimmers, and programmable settings for different tasks or different times of day.

For the Design-Forward

Emeco Chair

Emeco’s iconic aluminum chairs are handmade with recycled aluminum. Their durable and sleek design helps them stand the test of time.

They come in a wide variety of designs and colors, so there's something for everyone's interior style.

 

Burrow Rug

Burrow offers a wide selection of rugs made of natural & recycled materials.

Their curated collection features unique characteristics tailored to diverse lifestyles, from low-maintenance foundations to fashion-forward statements.

 

Sheet Society Bed Set

Sheet Society’s bedding is made from natural farmed fibers, which have a positive impact on the environment compared to manufactured fibers.

Their wide range of design and material that only gets softer over time makes it the perfect gift for those who like to sleep in.

 

For the Green Thumb

Bloomscape Plant

For those who love filling their homes with air purifying plants, Bloomscape delivers high quality healthy plants direct to your recipients door.

Even better, every Bloomscape pots and saucers are eco-friendly using up to 80% recycled plastics harvested from the ocean.

For those on a mission to reduce their waste

Bamboozle Indoor Compost Bin

Bamboozle makes one of the best indoor compost bins for collecting food scraps. Its sleek modern design is complete with biodegradable bamboo fibers.

It’s not just a stylish kitchen accessory - it’s a powerful one that’s dishwasher and freezer-safe, and comes with a breathable lid and odor-blocking carbon filter.

 

Zero Waste Kits

For someone on your list looking to minimize their waste, a zero waste starter kit can help them on their journey.

From everyday living accessories like food wraps or storage containers, stainless steel lunch tins, sink accessories, or laundry detergent, the Zero Waste Outlet offers plenty of accessories.

 

For the Tricky to Shop For

Voucher For A Zero Waste Store

Virtual gift cards are the ultimate simple plastic free gifts for last-minute shoppers and hard-to-buy-for friends and family.

Sustainable store EcoRoots gift card gives access to tons of low waste gifts for the home and bathroom.

 

Looking to create a more sustainable design/build in 2023? Get in touch.

The significance of sustainability in architecture has grown in recent years with no signs of slowing down. More commissions than ever before are targeting sustainability, whether by legal mandate, as an ESG target, or as a moral imperative.

In honor of National Book Month, we’re listing some of our team’s Top 10 suggested reads on sustainable design and architecture which we hope will inspire new ideas for your next project.


1. Buildings Don't Lie by Henry Gifford

With over 1,000 large drawings and photos, this book provides a clear, thorough, and complete explanation of basic building science applicable to any building in any climate. Read this book to become your own expert on making buildings comfortable, healthy, safe, durable, and sustainable. This book also provides guidance on designing building enclosures, indoor air quality, choosing heating and cooling systems, and how to ventilate, heat, and cool different types of buildings to maximize energy efficiency.

 

2. Moisture Control Handbook by Joe Lstiburek

In the climate-controlled buildings of today, moisture problems affect not only the usable life expectancy of the structure, but the comfort and health of the occupants. This reference is the first to apply up-to-date moisture control and treatment techniques in a problem/solution format.

 

3. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough

"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But such an approach only perpetuates the one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that creates exorbitant waste and pollution.

McDonough and Braungart explain how products can be designed from the outset so that, after their useful lives, they provide nourishment for something new or continually circulate as pure and valuable materials within closed-loop industrial cycles, rather than being "recycled"-- into low-grade materials.

4. Green Building Illustrated by Francis DK Ching

This book offers a graphical presentation to the theory, practices, and complexities of sustainable design. From the outside to the inside of a building, it covers all aspects of sustainability, providing a framework and detailed strategies to design sustainable buildings. The book includes theories behind green building and current rating systems before moving on to a comprehensive discussion of vital topics. These topics include site selection, passive design using building shape, water conservation, ventilation and air quality, heating and cooling, minimum-impact materials, and much more.

5. The New Net Zero: Leading-Edge Design and Construction of Homes and Buildings for a Renewable Energy Future by Bill Maclay

The new threshold for green building is not just low energy, it's net-zero energy. Sustainable architect Bill Maclay charts the path for designers and builders interested in exploring green design's new frontier net-zero-energy structures that produce as much energy as they consume and are carbon neutral.


6. Design Professional's Guide to Zero Net Energy Buildings by Charles Eley

Charles Eley draws from over 40 years of his own experience, and interviews with other industry experts, to lay out the principles for achieving Zero Net Energy buildings and the issues surrounding their development. Eley emphasizes the importance of building energy use in achieving a sustainable future; describes how building energy use can be minimized through smart design and energy efficiency technologies; and presents practical information on how to incorporate renewable energy technologies to meet the lowered energy needs. The book identifies the building types and climates where meeting the goal will be a challenge and offers solutions for these special cases. It provides examples and explanations on how these solutions are viable and cost-effective.

7. Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity by Joseph Allen

Health and sustainability are directly linked. This book makes the connection between health science and business for a new way to think about buildings. Allen explains how our indoor environment can have a dramatic impact on a whole host of higher order cognitive functions--including things like concentration, strategic thinking, troubleshooting, and decision-making. Drawing on strategies from sustainable building design such as improved ventilation, use of eco-friendly materials and lighting and noise control, this book provides a guide on improving occupant well-being in a new era of ESG responsibility. 

8. California Greenin': How the Golden State Became an Environmental Leader by David Vogel

Over the course of its 150-year history, California has successfully protected its scenic wilderness areas, restricted coastal oil drilling, regulated automobile emissions, preserved coastal access, improved energy efficiency, and, most recently, addressed global climate change. How has this state, more than any other, enacted so many innovative and stringent environmental regulations over such a long period of time? The first comprehensive look at California's history of environmental leadership, California Greenin' shows why the Golden State has been at the forefront in setting new environmental standards, often leading the rest of the nation.

 

9. Vitamin Green by Joshua Bolchover

Vitamin Green provides an updated exploration of how sustainability is being incorporated into design. “Concerns about sustainability are changing design at every level, and Bolchover has collected well-illustrated examples from every industry, demonstrating how sustainability is impacting the design of everything from skyscrapers to spectacles,” says Gladys Jones, an editor at Essayroo. “Seeing how designers are taking sustainability on board in creative ways will motivate your own spirit of innovation on the next project.”

 

10. The Law of Green Buildings: Regulatory and Legal Issues in Design, Construction, Operations, and Financing by J. Cullen Howe

Examining the most important issues in achieving the goal of building more efficient and less damaging buildings, this book highlights the significant statutes and regulations as well as other legal issues that need to be considered when advising clients in the development, construction, financing, and leasing of a green building. Topics include federal incentive programs, financing, alternative energy, site selection, land use planning, green construction practices and materials, emerging legal issues, and the effects of climate change on planning and architectural design. 

For more resources on sustainable design, check out our knowledge base or contact us.

 

 

Like the building sector, sustainable practices are trending on the runway

Fashion Week has returned to New York with five-and-a-half-days of runway shows, hosted in iconic locations around the city. With designers debuting their Spring/Summer 2023 collections, we’ve been seeing Y2K, maximalist, quirky aesthetics take center-focus with a strong sustainability theme.



With the fashion industry relying on churning out the next big thing, it’s no surprise to see designers lean into trends that are here today, gone tomorrow - also known as ‘Fast Fashion.’  But with increasing pressure from the public, advocacy groups and governments, the industry is looking to reduce its environmental impact.

 

Prioritizing aesthetics over sustainably sourced and produced materials is slowly going by the wayside towards a more climate conscious process. Brands like Gabriela Hearst and Studio 189, for example, are using natural, earth-friendly materials to make their clothing.


Other designers like Collina Strada, debuted two footwear capsules with sustainably-minded brands Virón and Melissa. The brand used deadstock material [material that hasn’t been able to sell and would otherwise be in a landfill] on their boots and loafers. Their sandal collection is made of 100% biodegradable cruelty-free vegan leather.



Meanwhile, some labels, like Gucci, have moved away from the fashion calendar entirely and gone season-less; scaling their annual number of shows from five to two. A season-less fashion cycle puts focus on wardrobe staples and moves away from fleeting trends, therefore calling for less consumption.



Regardless of what the fashion industry has been pumping out, consumers around the world have been moving away from fast fashion in favor of circular fashion. According to a 2021 Resale Report, in 2020, 80 percent of consumers said they were open to purchasing second hand products, a 16 percent increase from 2019.

Consumers have also turned to buying local to reduce carbon emissions involved in shipping materials or end products from distant locations.

 

Like the fashion industry, the building industry has a long road to decarbonization. As sustainable building consultants, we’re happy to see an uptick in brands and consumers repurposing, up-cycling, and locally sourcing garments.

Are you looking to become more sustainable? We can’t help you style up-cycled moon boots, but we can help you design a beautiful, eco-conscious space. Looking for help on your new or existing build? Get in touch!

 

The largest climate legislation in U.S. history passed the House of Representatives on Friday, August 12th. Part of the Inflation Reduction Act, $370 billion will be invested to transform markets for energy efficiency and renewable energy to drive down greenhouse gas emissions by 40%.

The bill also includes monumental incentives and investments to expand the green building market. Companies and consumers will be given tax incentives for energy efficiency improvements to buildings, renewable power generation, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources and other clean energy technologies.

Billions of dollars will also be invested into public building upgrades, green building improvements to affordable housing and low embodied carbon construction materials. It will even offer tens of billions in new clean energy financing opportunities, such as Department of Energy loans, a clean-tech accelerator green bank, and environmental justice and community redevelopment grants.

For more information on the Inflation Reduction Act, check out our highlights. 

We’re excited for this bill to be passed into law. We believe this is a huge moment in American history and we’re looking forward to a more sustainable future.

Have a green building project you’re in need of sustainability support on or just looking to understand what this can mean for your business? Get in touch. 

 

July is National Parks and Recreation Month.

Parks are at the center of many people’s experiences and memories, offering a place to gather with family, friends, and community.

Parks are also hubs for history and culture, making it essential to protect and preserve them for future generations.

Recently, we’ve witnessed local and national parks impacted by natural disasters. From wildfires raging throughout Yosemite National Park, to severe flooding in Yellowstone, and historic droughts in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the damage continues to pose a long road to recovery for people, wildlife, infrastructure, and businesses.

Climate change is the greatest threat to our parks, making it essential to rebuild and proactively develop sustainable buildings and infrastructure.

Sustainable buildings help achieve greater energy efficiency, reduce the consumption of natural resources, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Throughout the years, we’ve been proud to help create sustainable, resilient spaces for individuals and communities to enjoy while protecting our local and national parks like Midtown Park, Franklin Park, and San Juan Island's National Historic Park.

Looking for support on a park project? Get in touch.

Our guide, 10 Strategies for Sustainable Design was created as a reference to help design professionals achieve sustainable building performance.

It lists principles that can be incorporated into virtually any project - taking into account embodied carbon, water and energy usage, material standards and more.

View the full guide.

Sustainable design is complex and multi-faceted. Need help with your project?
Contact us for a free consultation. 

Top 5 Predictions

5) INCREASED MODULAR BUILDING AND USE OF PREFABRICATED MATERIALS

The modular construction and prefabricated materials market is predicted to balloon in value to $108 billion by 2025, driven by a lack of skilled labor and an increase in cost-cutting technology.

General contractors and owners are also leaning more towards prefabricated methods of construction because it provides flexibility in the structure design.

Unlike traditional materials and building sites where waste goes directly to a landfill, prefabricated materials are recyclable. Demountable partitions allow offices to enhance daylight and insulation for improved energy efficiencies, while reducing the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and air quality concerns associated with traditional drywall and finishing.

 

4) DEEP ENERGY RETROFITS

3) RISING DEMAND FOR ZERO EMISSION TECHNOLOGIES

President Biden's push for a net-zero building portfolio under EO 14057, will put increased focus on zero emissions technology.

Efficient, zero carbon buildings take advantage of available, cost-effective technology to reduce emissions while increasing health, equity and economic prosperity in local communities.

The most commonly used renewable energy technologies are on-site PV panels, solar water heaters, and off-site renewable energy systems, like solar power plants, hydropower plants, and wind turbines. We don’t only anticipate demand to increase - we also predict new technologies will make their way into the market.

 

2) A CONTINUOUS BOOM IN SMART, SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Smart cities leverage data to optimize energy consumption and manage resources, so it’s no surprise that regenerative buildings are integral to their blueprints for water, waste, and energy management.

The Worldwide Smart Cities Industry is Expected to Exceed $2.5 Trillion by 2026. 

Within the U.S., Congresses' $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill aims to create more sustainable, equitable cities.

Priorities within the bill include:

• Upgrading to Clean Energy: A $108 billion investment will help upgrade the nation’s electricity grid, with thousands of miles of new transmission lines and funds for environmentally friendly smart-grid technology.
• Improved access to public transit: The largest-ever federal investment in public transit of $39 billion, has been budgeted to modernize systems and improve access for the elderly and people with disabilities. Lawmakers have also shored up $15 billion for the nation’s first network of electric-vehicle chargers along highway corridors, as well as zero-emission buses and ferries.
• High-Speed Internet Access: $65 billion has been allocated to bolster the country's broadband infrastructure, which will allow for more flexibility of remote work and learning. 

Big tech companies like IBM, Microsoft and Cisco, are also investing in smart cities. Despite initial investments required for smart cities, they’ve been proven to positively influence the economy, improve quality of life among residents, and benefit the environment over the long term. Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Boulder, CO, San Jose, CA, and New York City, NY are some of the notable smart cities within the U.S. and we’re expecting to see more cities pursuing sustainable building. 

 

1) COMMERCIAL-TO-RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS

As of late October of 2021, only 28 percent of Manhattan office workers had returned to their desks, with only 8 percent in office for five days a week. With 80 percent of employers planning to permanently change their remote work policies, empty commercial buildings are ripe for conversion to residential housing.

Green Building Is Warming Up

2021 was a year for reflection and revision on priorities, policies, and portfolios.

ARCHITECTS JOINED WORLD LEADERS IN TALKS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

This year, The American Institute of Architects sent its first delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, to raise awareness of the role of the building sector, to connect with decision-makers and partner organizations, and to advocate for policies that support decarbonization and adaptation.

At the 26th conference, nations agreed on the Glasgow Climate Pact, which states that carbon emissions will have to fall by 45 percent by 2030 to keep alive the 1.5°C (2.7°F) goal. This pact called for nations to return in 2022 with new, more ambitious targets to curb emissions.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER 14057

On December 8, 2021 President Biden signed Executive Order 14057, accelerating the Federal Government’s efforts toward a net-zero building portfolio. Under the policy, all new construction and modernization projects greater than 25,000 square feet must be designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2032 and achieve net-zero across its portfolio by 2045.

SUSTAINABLE FUNDS HIT A RECORD HIGH 

The U.S. sustainable fund landscape surged to a record of nearly $21.5 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

 

This Year, We've Seen Every Building Can Be a Green Building

With global climate initiatives and federal policies prioritizing a greener future, we've seen a big bump in demand for our services.

In 2021, we've onboarded 70 new projects across 15 states.

OUR NEW PROJECT BREAKOUT

With All This Growth, We've Continued to Up-Skill and Expand Our Team

OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS

We're hiring for 2022!

Thank you to our clients and employees who have made 2021 the biggest year in our history. We're looking forward to a productive new year!

If you'd like to use this infographic on your website, you’re welcome to. All we ask is that you give credit to https://abovegreen.com.

As a company that specializes in helping people get their buildings LEED Certified, we are passionate about sustainability and green living. Naturally, we were curious to know which states in the USA are the best and worst for green living.

The above map is showing the results of our research based on 6 key factors: renewable energy usage, carbon emissions, water usage, number of electric vehicles, number of green buildings, number of green building professionals, and air quality. The factors were weighted by importance - for example, air quality counted more than number of electric vehicles.

Let us know what you think and what factors we should include next time!

The Top 5 Best States for Green Living are:

1. Alaska
2. Montana
3. Oregon
4. Washington
5. Hawaii

The Top 5 Worst States for Green Living are:

1. Delaware
2. Rhode Island
3. Ohio
4. Mississippi
5. New Jersey

Methodology

1. Renewable Energy

Renewable energy which mostly includes wind and solar is a clear indication of how green a state is. The state with the most renewable energy per capita was Washington and the state with the least was New Jersey.

Data source: https://www.eia.gov/renewable/state/archive/2010/

2. Carbon Emissions

Naturall, a state with a high carbon footprint is not going to be as ideal as a state with low carbon emissions. The state with the lowest carbon emissions per capita was New York and the state with the highest was Wyoming.

Data source: http://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=US#/series/226

3. Water usage

Water is a precious resource. We wanted to see which states are guzzling the gallons versus which are more careful with their water usage. The state with the highest water usage per capita was California (luckily, their drought has broken!) and the state with the least was Vermont.

Data source: https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1405/

4. Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are another clear indication of how green conscious a state is. How often do you see a Prius or a Tesla in your neighborhood? The state with the most electric vehicles per capita was California (3.25 per 1000 people) and the state with the lowest was Mississippi (0.07 per 1000 people).

Data source: https://energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fact-876-june-8-2015-plug-electric-vehicle-penetration-state-2014

5. Green Buildings and Professionals

At Above Green we help contractors, architects and developers to get their buildings LEED certified. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design.We looked at the number of LEED certified projects and LEED consulting professionals per state. The state with the most LEED building per capita was Hawaii and the state with the least was West Virginia. The state with the most LEED professionals per capita was Massachusetts and the state with the least was Mississippi.

Data sources: http://www.usgbc.org/projects and http://www.usgbc.org/people

6. Air Quality

Last but not least was air quality. Few can argue that air quality isn’t essential for green living. The state with the best air quality is Hawaii. No real surprises there with 1000s of miles of ocean surrounding the islands (although they do still burn the sugar cane and sometimes vog is an issue caused by their volcanoes!). The state with the worst air quality was Utah. This one is very surprising but is apparently caused by extreme temperature inversions that bring fine particle matter (which is toxic to breathe) down to ground level.

Data source: http://www.usa.com/rank/us--air-quality-index--state-rank.htm

Conclusion

From our findings based on these 6 key factors we found that generally the northern and western states were better for green living. Of course there are many more factors that could be considered for a more complete evaluation. This our first attempt at finding the greenest places. What should we look at next time? What are most important factors in green and healthy living to you?