Edinburgh has been named the UK’s most eco-friendly city, according to a new ranking released by clean energy solutions company, egg. The Scottish capital was closely followed by Brighton and Bristol, with Sheffield coming in at a surprising fourth place.
The ranking, which looked at factors such as air quality, green spaces, and adoption of clean energy solutions like electric vehicles and solar panels, also took into account the average house prices in each city.
“We can see that sustainability has become a major consideration for people when choosing where to live,” said Gavin Morse, an energy expert at egg. “Our ‘UK’s Most Sustainable City’ ranking highlights the cities that are not only supporting the UK’s green ambitions, but also balancing affordability and sustainability.”
Edinburgh secured the top spot thanks to its overall air quality and abundance of green spaces. The city also saw a modest rise of only 1% in house prices in the last year, compared to the national average of 1.9%.
Brighton, known for its seaside charm, took second place due to its low levels of pollution and over 400 electric vehicle charging points. However, the city’s eco-friendly status comes at a cost, with the average house price being nearly 63% higher than the UK average.
In a surprising turn, Sheffield claimed the fourth spot on the ranking, beating out cities like Cambridge and Oxford. The city, known for its coal and steel heritage, has made significant strides in transitioning to cleaner energy solutions, such as EV charging stations and solar panels. Sheffield also offers relatively low house prices, making it an attractive option for those looking to live sustainably.
Other cities in the top 20 include Cambridge and Plymouth, which are leading the way in solar power adoption, with residents generating a combined total of over 50 megawatts of solar power.
On the other end of the ranking, Nottingham, Newcastle, and Belfast were named the least sustainable cities in the UK. Belfast, however, saw the biggest increase in property prices at 6.9%, indicating that sustainability is still a key factor in property decisions even in cities with lower rankings.
The data used for the ranking was sourced from various sources, including the UK Air Quality Index, Ordnance Survey, and government data on solar power deployment and house prices.
With the UK government’s focus on achieving net zero targets, the ranking serves as a useful guide for future homeowners looking to settle in a city that prioritizes sustainability. As Morse puts it, “cities that invest in clean energy, sustainable transport, and carbon-neutral developments are not only benefiting the environment but also attracting more interest from future-focused homeowners.”
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.