Americans talk about being environmentally conscious and reducing our carbon footprints. But how does the United States stack up compared to the rest of the world? Although different surveys and studies give varied results, European and South American countries typically rank at the top of the eco-friendly list.
In one study, Yale University conducted an EPI (Environmental Protection Index), grading 149 countries on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 being the worst and 100 being the best. The study considered factors such as a country’s carbon emissions, sulfur output, conservation efforts and water purity. The top 10 countries (in order) are Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Costa Rica, Austria, New Zealand, Latvia, Colombia, and France. The U.S. ranked 39th.
Other countries are also doing better at recycling than the U.S., which recycles 31.5 percent of its waste. According to the Web site, Aneki.com, the seven countries that recycle the most are: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United States. Top-ranked Switzerland recycles 52 percent of its waste.
Other eco-friendly measurements are alternative energy production and Greendex scores, which examine such factors as transportation, water usage and energy efficiency. For more information visit GreenDivaMom.com.
Brian Kinkade is a broker and team lead with Cherry Creek Professionals Realty, a full service Denver real estate firm. His team specializes in Denver luxury real estate, equine properties and International sales. Brian invites you to visit his website for more information.
