I swore there was another poll that rated SF has the Greenest City in the U.S. Either it was wrong, and we are greenest, or we need to step it up a notch to beat those folks from Portland, Oregon.
This recent poll ranked us as number 2. Oakland, Berkeley, and Sunnyvale where other SF Bay Area cities that made the top 50.
Per Popsi.com‘s website, this is how their rankings work:
We used raw data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Geographic Society’s Green Guide, which collected survey data and government statistics for American cities of over 100,000 people in more than 30 categories, including air quality, electricity use and transportation habits. We then compiled these statistics into four broad categories, each scored out of either 5 or 10 possible points. The sum of these four scores determines a city’s place in the rankings. Our categories are:
Electricity (E; 10 points): Cities score points for drawing their energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power, as well as for offering incentives for residents to invest in their own power sources, like roof-mounted solar panels.
Transportation (T; 10 points): High scores go to cities whose commuters take public transportation or carpool. Air quality also plays a role.
Green living (G; 5 points): Cities earn points for the number of buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as for devoting area to green space, such as public parks and nature preserves.
Recycling and green perspective (R; 5 points): This measures how comprehensive a city’s recycling program is (if the city collects old electronics, for example) and how important its citizens consider environmental issues.
I guess 2nd ain’t bad – but common folks, let’s aim a little higher next year! 
It’s not like we’re not close – Portland came in at 23.1 points, and we came in at 23. You can do it!
Green Cities tend to be wealthy cities with highly educated people and little poverty. All the gas and energy you burn is in some one else’s backyard. Most of these surveys will match with incomes leaving the poorer cities on the bottom. There is not time to think about being green in these areas even though a lot of things grow that are green. We may win that one!! LOL
You are right Eric. Wealthy, educated cities are more likely to be green. But I disagree with the fact that the gas and energy we burn is in someone else’s backyard. The goal is for SF and Cities like it to become mostly self-sufficient and to rely instead on renewable sources of energy, most of which are clean and efficient sources of energy. I don’t think we’re going green at the cost of polluting our neighbors’ property. I think we’re going green to bring a positive effect on both a local level, and a worldwide level. We realize that our impact doesn’t just end with us, but that out carbon footprints affect the world at large. Anyhow – thanks for commenting, and I checked out your blog – nice! New Orleans is another great and beautiful city! I hope to make it out there one day!
I don’t think we’re going green at the cost of polluting our neighbors’ property.