The research website NerdWallet recently tabbed Miami as America’s fifth-greenest city, trailing only Honolulu, Washington, D.C., Arlington, Va., and San Francisco. NerdWallet analyzed the nation’s 150 largest cities on the following factors: air quality, transportation, energy sources for heating in homes, and housing density.
Miami finished with the sixth-best air quality in the nation, according to NerdWallet. The website studied each city’s 2014 median of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s daily Air Quality Index, a measure of sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels that guide the assessment of acute health effects. The higher the index number, the more polluted an area.
Miami finished with a median air-quality index of 43, which tied Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and Hialeah. Only eight cities had a better air quality index than Miami: Honolulu (27), Rochester, N.Y. (34), Lincoln, Neb. (34), Portland, Oregon (36), Durham, N.C. (36), Madison, Wisc. (40), Austin, Texas (42), and Salt Lake City, Utah (42).
Miami also shined in comparison to other cities with its percentage of carpooling residents and housing density. About 10 percent of Miami’s population carpools, which tied for fourth-best in the nation. Honolulu had the highest carpool rate, with 13 percent. Miami’s number of high-density developments is also decreasing transportation needs, another boom to a green lifestyle. About 41 percent of Miami’s residential buildings have 10 or more units, which ranked fifth-best in NerdWallet’s study. Honolulu had the best high-density percentage at 51 percent.
The completion of All Aboard Florida, a planned 35-mile, $2.5 billion rail system from downtown Miami to Orlando International Airport, should only increase Miami’s green lifestyle. All Aboard Florida’s rail system is expected to be completed by 2017. The express passenger rail will enhance Miami’s 25-mile Metrorail, which already services the airport and myriad cities.
America’s Greenest Cities: 1.) Honolulu, 2.) Washington, D.C., 3.) Arlington, Va., 4.) San Francisco, 5.) Miami, 6.) New York City, 7.) Boston, 8.) Orlando, 9.) Seattle, 10.) Jersey City, N.J.
About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS
The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 95 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of five organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward County Board of Governors, the YPN Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents more than 35,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S., and has official partnerships with more than 125 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is www.miamire.com.
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