Who is greener?

A recent CNBC survey highlighted the greenest ten states in teh US based on water quality, legislation, and other variables. Here is the list:

1. Washington
The Evergreen State is living up to its nickname. According to Greenopia, Washington made the top stop because of its high number of LEED buildings, green businesses and renewable energy sources, such as Energy Northwest's Nine Canyon Wind Project.

2. Vermont
One of the state's renewable energy sources is the Searsburg Wind Power Facility, which can power some 1,400 homes a year. Vermont has also attracted a number of green businesses to the stat. Some 100 of them operate within its borders.

3. New York
The Empire State is cited as having low water consumption per capita compared to other states, according to the report. New York also has a large number of green businesses, some 3,000, according to Greenopia.

4. Oregon
Oregon has one of the highest recycling rates in the country at almost 50 percent, according to Greenopia. It was also cited for having a large number of green businesses relative to its population. There are about 600 green businesses in Oregon, according to Greenopia.

5. California
The Golden State gets a large amount of its energy from renewable sources, such as eSolar's Sierra SunTower, pictured here, which can power up to 4,000 homes in Southern California.

6. Nevada
One of the state's renewable energy sources includes ACCIONA's Nevada Solar One. Completed in 2007, it can power more than 14,000 homes a year.

7. Maine
Greenopia cited the high number of LEED-registered and -certified buildings in the state in placing i among the greenest. This Hannaford supermarket in Augusta, Maine achieved the highest-level LEED certification. Opened last year, it has solar panels, utilizes recycled materials and a partial rooftop garden that helps keep the store cool.

8. Colorado
The state has one of the highest concentrations of green businesses, according to Greenopia. In December 2009, solar-power company SolarCity opened a sales office in Westminster, Colo. and has plans to expand into the Denver area.

9. Minnesota
A higher number of green businesses and Leadership in Energy and Environmental. LEED, registered and certified buildings helped propel Minnesota into the top ten. Target Field, pictured at left, achieved LEED silver certification (the third-highest level). The baseball stadium, which opened in April, has recycling stations, water-saving fixtures and utilized recycled building materials.

10. New Hampshire
The state's winning quality, according to the report, is its low energy consumption and emissions per capita.