It Turns Out Colorado Isn’t As Environmentally Friendly As You’d Think

It Turns Out Colorado Isn’t As Environmentally Friendly As You’d Think

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I have always believed that Colorado is extremely considerate when it comes to being environmentally friendly.

I live in Northern Colorado, and I have noticed that most restaurants are very aware of their carbon footprint. Many restaurants in Fort Collins have their customers toss their food into three separate bins. One for garbage, another for recycling, and another for compost.

We all try our best to put our food, wrappers, and other items in the correct bins.

We all try to do the right thing, right?

Colorado is Eco-Friendly, But There's More Than That

What I am trying to get at here is that Colorado seems very environmentally conscious. You would have probably assumed that Colorado was a top 10 'green' state.

READ MORE: Free 'Food for All' Program Debuts in Fort Collins

That assumption is wrong.

Colorado's 'Green' Ranking Revealed

WalletHub reviewed and ranked each state by how environmentally friendly they are. They based this ranking on 28 factors, but environmental quality, eco-friendly behaviors, and climate change contribution were key categories.

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Colorado was ranked at number 17.

Where Colorado Ranked Poorly

As we mentioned before, Coloradans certainly seem to have eco-friendly behaviors. According to the research we do.

Colorado ranked eighth in that category. On the other hand, Colorado did not rank as well for climate change contributions. That is likely due to fossil fuels and forms of agriculture.

Colorado does have the second most LEED-certified buildings in the nation, though. These are buildings that are better for the environment.

On another note, Colorado's recycling rate amongst residents is very surprising and interesting. Colorado residents recycle at half of what the nation's average is.

You can check out the full research from WalletHub here.

Why Earthquakes in Colorado are So Common

In Colorado, there are underground faults where the Earth’s plates have moved before. Even though Colorado is not near the edge of a big tectonic plate like California, old faults can still cause earthquakes at times.
 
People can also cause small earthquakes by drilling deep underground for oil, gas, or water. This drilling changes the pressure and can make the rocks move, which shakes the ground.

Gallery Credit: Tim Gray

22 Colorado Counties with the Highest Levels of Excessive Drinking

According to Intoxistates.com, 21.41% of Colorado residents report an excessive consumption of alcohol. See which counties averaged an even higher rate for excessive drinking around the state.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

Filed Under: Colorado
Categories: Colorado Local