Connecticut excels on water consumption but lags on environmental protection
Most Americans think the environment is getting worse --about two thirds responded this way to Gallup -- and 63 percent think our government isn't doing enough to protect it.
SmileHub is again illuminating how states can raise their green game, as well as who stand as role models. It just released its list of greenest states, and while we are not at the top of the list (we're #13), an honor enjoyed by my home state of California, we've been holding steady in this spot.
I sent over a few questions again for Luke Powers, the company's environmental spokesperson and business manager.
1. What is Connecticut doing better than any other state?
Luke:
Connecticut's biggest environmental strength is how efficiently it uses resources while keeping pollution levels low. The state ranks 7th in the nation for low energy consumption per capita,
1st for
low daily water consumption per capita, and
1st for
low landfill waste per capita, demonstrating an exceptional ability to reduce environmental impact through efficient consumption and waste management. Connecticut also ranks 1st for having a renewable portfolio standard,
1st for
electronic waste recycling programs, and
1st for the
lowest methane emissions per capita. These achievements help explain why Connecticut places 5th nationally in Emission & Pollution Contributions and 7th in Energy Consumption & Waste Disposal, despite ranking just 38th in Environmental Protection measures. In other words, Connecticut stands out not because of the scale of its conservation programs, but because it does an outstanding job of minimizing waste, conserving resources, and limiting pollution.
2. What's our greatest weakness?
Luke:
Connecticut's environmental weakness is its relatively poor performance in traditional environmental protection measures. The state ranks just 38th overall in the Environmental Protection category, dragged down by a low ranking for environmental protection charities per capita (38th), a lack of water reuse regulations or guidelines (38th), and only middling performance in conservation programs (22nd), green buildings per capita (27th), and land designated for parks and wildlife (18th). These results suggest that while Connecticut excels at reducing waste, conserving water, and limiting emissions, it has invested less heavily than many top-performing states in conservation infrastructure, environmental organizations, and policies designed to protect natural resources over the long term. Expanding these efforts could help Connecticut translate its strong environmental outcomes into a more comprehensive environmental protection strategy.
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3. I have been alarmed to see the introduction of Clynk, a recycling program requiring special proprietary bags, at Stop 'n Shop. I've spoken to others: this turns off recyclers. What do you know about this shoddy program?
Luke:
Programs like CLYNK highlight an important tradeoff in environmental policy: convenience versus accessibility. While bag-drop systems can save consumers time and reduce lines at redemption centers, requiring proprietary bags and account registration may create additional barriers for some residents. The success of any recycling program ultimately depends on participation, so policymakers and retailers should carefully monitor whether added convenience for some users comes at the cost of discouraging others from redeeming containers. The ideal system is one that maximizes both ease of use and broad public participation in recycling efforts.
4. Where have we risen over time?
Luke:Connecticut's environmental performance over time is really about staying consistently strong in some areas, rather than moving up the rankings. The state has remained a top performer in both energy use and pollution-related measures, keeping its place near the top of the country without major changes year to year. That shows it continues to use resources efficiently and keep emissions low.
Where the bigger change shows up is in the overall ranking, which has slipped a bit over time. That drop isn't because Connecticut is doing worse in energy or emissions — those areas have stayed solid — but because it's not as strong in environmental protection policies and conservation efforts compared to leading states. In short, Connecticut's strength is steady efficiency, while its weakness is that it hasn't expanded as much on the conservation and protection side.
5. I see more
bikes but sometimes am annoyed when they don't follow rules. Do you have stats to support my thesis?
Luke:
Connecticut does appear to have a meaningful level of participation in green transportation. The state ranks 18th for the share of residents who walk, bike, carpool, use public transportation, or work from home, indicating that alternatives to driving are fairly common. However, our data does not break out bicycling specifically, nor does it include information about cyclist behavior, traffic violations, or compliance with road rules. As a result, while your observation that you're seeing more bikes is broadly consistent with Connecticut's above-average use of green transportation, the statistics in this study cannot determine whether cyclists are more or less likey to follow traffic laws.
Read the report, "2026: The Best States for Environmental Protection", and commentary and data.
photo: Milford's Gulf Beach, Laurie Wiegler
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