Green Economy does not include environmental services such as hazardous waste cleanup services. Many elements of the green economy have value-added benefits for a city's local economy while reducing stress on local resources and the local ecosystem. Green building, for example, saves businesses and residents money in operating costs while reducing environmental impacts during manufacture, use, and disposal.

Atop the Green Economy category is Portland, with its high rate of farmers' markets and green buildings per capita, and numerous local green business directories. The city recently stopped providing financial incentives to kickstart local biodiesel programs and infrastructure. Portland no doubt had reached its goals, and perhaps felt uneasy about rising food prices. The Pacific Northwest city's mobile PDX Lounge, an "open-source marketing and economic development platform for both emerging and established sustainable industry leaders in Oregon", is worth a visit if you are in the greening business. And these days, who isn't?

Seattle and Denver are second and third respectively, with slighter fewer farmers' markets and green buildings per capita. Make sure to pick up a copy of Seattle-based magazine Sustainable Industries, to keep abreast of current trends. Cleveland (number four) picked up the pace with a higher number of farmers' markets per capita. San Francisco earns fifth place again with respectable marks across the board and both a clean tech czar, and a clean tech business attraction strategy in place.

Economic development directors and residents alike are encouraged to read SustainLane Government's 2007 report, Top 5 Cities for Clean Tech.

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