The Most Environmentally Friendly States to Celebrate Earth Day

Maine rounds out a top 10 that includes several states in New England. Maine is tied for the nation's highest percentage of renewable energy consumption and ranks fourth overall in terms of environmental quality, a category that considers air, water and soil quality as well as a state's energy efficiency score. 

Like Maine, Washington is tied for the highest percentage of renewable energy consumption and also ranks as the fifth-lowest state for gasoline consumption per capita. Fittingly, the Evergreen State also boasts the fifth-most LEED-certified buildings per capita. 

In the Midwest, Minnesota is tied for the nation's highest soil quality and ranks ninth nationwide for eco-friendly behaviors, which considers a plethora of factors including gasoline and water consumption, the number of alternative-fuel vehicles and stations per capita, green transportation and more. 

Massachusetts boasts the fifth-lowest energy consumption per capita in the U.S. and has the third-most LEED-certified buildings per capita. Additionally, the state is tied for the nation's best water quality. 

To the south of Massachusetts, Connecticut ranks best in the country in terms of climate-change contributions, an important category that takes into account carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated greenhouse-gas emissions per capita. 

Elsewhere on the East Coast, Maryland is home to the second-most LEED-certified buildings per capita and ranks seventh or better in all three categories considered, including environmental quality (seventh), eco-friendly behaviors (fourth) and climate-change contributions (seventh).

Ranking first in the nation for environmental quality, Hawaii has the highest air quality in the U.S. and is tied for the country's highest water and soil quality. What's more, Hawaii ranks lowest for energy consumption per capita and second-lowest for gasoline consumption per capita. 

California is propelled to number three on the strength of its eco-friendly behaviors (third) and climate-change contributions (fourth). The Golden State is tied for the nation's highest water quality and is fourth-lowest in terms of energy consumption per capita. 

Like Maryland, New York ranks inside the top 10 in all three categories. Plus, it tied for the fifth-highest soil quality, ranks the lowest for gasoline consumption per capita and finished third for lowest energy consumption per capita.  

Ranking first for eco-friendly behaviors and second for environmental quality, the Green Mountain State is the nation's, well, greenest in 2023. Vermont is tied for the country's fourth-highest air quality but ranks just 33rd in terms of climate-change contributions, which is surprisingly the worst of any state in the top 10.