America's most sustainable city is Honolulu, the capital of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In second place is the federal capital Washington, and in third Arlington, Virginia. The ranking of the ten most environmentally conscious cities was drawn up by the independent financial website NerdWallet.com. The top ten was determined by following four criteria: environmental quality, transport, energy production and population density.

What emerged is that "bigger is better" because it reduces urban sprawl. Transport becomes more efficient because the network does not have to stretch out to distant suburbs, and energy demand is also more concentrated. It is no coincidence, then, that Honolulu won for air quality and solar energy development. Washington was recognised for an efficient public transport service used by almost 40 per cent of workers. Meanwhile San Francisco, in fourth place, is among the American cities that makes the greatest use of renewables to power its residents' homes. Here is the complete top ten.

1. Honolulu, Hawaii

2. Washington, D.C.

3. Arlington, Virginia

4. San Francisco, California

5. Miami, Florida

6. New York City, New York

7. Boston, Massachusetts

8. Orlando, Florida

9. Seattle, Washington

10. Jersey City, New Jersey