“Don’t blow it, good planets are hard to find.”  Boy isn’t that the truth.  Coming into the 21st century, the whole country seemed to wake up and realize that we need to take care of our planet.  It won’t be here forever.  What does being ‘green’ mean?  It describes a state that has low carbon dioxide emission, low smog/pollution, and strong energy efficiency policies.  So what states lead the pack in being green?  Check out the list.

Vermont

Vermont has the second smallest population in the United States. They also leave the smallest carbon footprint in the country.  They have a very high number of polices to reduce pollution and promote alternative energy. 

Oregon

Aside from pristine beaches, green forests and beautiful mountain ranges, Oregon is known for their bike friendly roads.  In Portland alone, there are over 200 miles of bike lanes.  And in Eugene, there’s over 30 miles of bike paths, and biking is the number one mode of transportation.  Oregon is very low when it comes to contributing a carbon footprint.

Washington

They don’t call it the Emerald City for nothing!  Seattle has more than 20 LEED certified buildings.  And Ballard (suburb of Seattle) has been dubbed ‘Green Ballard’.  They have many farmers markets and offer classes educating people on how to be greener.  Also, the state is leading in building homes with solar panels. 

Maine

Maine ranks 6th in the least amount of toxic waste and 4th in alternative energy.  Just about half of their energy comes from renewable sources.  A large amount of their energy comes from the woods and the wood’s waste. 

Hawaii

Tropical air and lush beaches, Hawaii brings a beautiful image to mind.  And they know it.  They rely heavily on tourism and are very aware of the environment.  They produce the least amount of toxic waste in the country.  And as far as implementing energy saving procedures, they rank 6th.  They are beautiful and green!

All of these states have many things to offer including coffee, pineapple, wine, skiing and beautiful scenery.  The fact that they are working to protect our earth is such a wonderful bonus.  Are you looking for a ‘green’ way to advertise your business?  Consider sending out Recycled Newspaper Pencils.  You can customize them with your business info too.  

Lisa Coronado is a web content writer for http://promotionalpencils.biz/index.php/recylced-pencils.html