Utah ranked second least eco-friendly state

Salt Lake City. Photo: Unsplash // Thomas Konings

Only Texas was ranked less eco-friendly than the Beehive State

UTAH — A new study from Cartridge Save has ranked Utah as the second least eco-friendly state in the U.S.

According to a press release from Cartridge Save, the study analyzed factors such as air and water quality, renewable energy consumption, pounds per capita recycled, GHG emissions, the number of national parks, average commute time by car, registered electric vehicles and proportion of farmland area to determine each state’s ranking.

Utah was ranked the 49th state with a total score of 30.46, followed only by Texas at 24.62 who is the least eco-friendly state

Despite the fact that Utah ranks third in terms of National Parks and has the ninth most registered electric vehicles, the state’s air quality ranking (41st), GHG emissions (45th), and energy consumption (35th) earned it the second lowest spot.

Utah is also one of the least green states in the U.S., ranking 40th in proportion to farmland area.

South Dakota earned the top spot with a total score of 68.39, followed by Oregon at 63.75 and Iowa by 63.12.

Study factors and respective their weights:

• GHG Emissions: 15%
• Air Quality: 15%
• Pounds per Capita Recycled: 15%
• Water quality (contaminants): 13%
• Proportion of Farmland Area: 10%
• Renewable Energy Consumption: 10%
• National Parks: 10%
• Average Commute Time by Car: 7%
• Registered Electric Vehicles: 5%

Sources for each data factor:

• GHG Emissions: Environmental Protection Agency
• Air Quality: World Population Review
• Pounds per Capita Recycled: Eunomia Eco
• Water quality (contaminants): Environmental Working Group
• Proportion of Farmland Area: United States Department of Agriculture
• Renewable Energy Consumption: U.S. Energy Information Administration
• National Parks: World Population Review
• Average Commute Time by Car: U.S. Census Bureau
• Registered Electric Vehicles: Alternative Fuels Data Center