Texas Ranks Low In 'Greenest States' Study

From plains to deserts to marshlands, Texas is known for its ever-changing terrain and constant shifts in weather. And while the excessive farm land might lead one to believe Texas is a "green state," a recent study from WalletHub disagrees.

But worry not, there is an explination. The study doesn't actually look at green spaces when making the designation. Rather, it took a look at 23 key indicators of environmental-friendliness ranging from LEED-certified buildings to share of energy consumption to greenhouse gas emissions.

And what it found is that Texas ranked No. 43 out of the nation's 50 states in terms of green-ness.

Considering each category is rated on a 1 to 50 score, Texas fell short on a variety of categories:

• 39 – Air Quality
• 36 – Soil Quality
• 44 – Water Quality
• 35 – % of Recycled Municipal Solid Waste
• 43 – % of Renewable Energy Consumption
• 45 – Energy Consumption per Capita
• 40 – Gasoline Consumption (in Gallons) per Capita

Texas did, however, rank particularly well in one category. The Lone Star State tied with several other states for a first-place ranking on LEED-certified buildings.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a rating system that evaluates environmental performance of buildings.

You can help make a positive environmental impact on April 22, Earth day. Stay tuned for information on ways to get involved in Earth Day in Texas.

>>> See the full study, methodology and expert advise on WalletHub's website.

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