Seattle is the No. 1 large city in the country for environmental stewardship and sustainability, says a new “Smarter Cities” survey released by the Smarter Cities Project of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

“This ‘Smarter Cities’ ranking reflects our city’s values and the commitment we have made to protect our climate,” said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. “Climate action takes each of us changing our individual habits and our entire community working together.”

Categories for evaluation were air quality, green space, recycling, transportation, water quality and conservation, green building, energy production and conservation, environmental standards and participation, and standard of living. Seattle ranked number one in three of these individual categories: green building, air quality, and energy production and consumption.

“Seattle’s smart strategies promote green space and buildings, clean air and water, and renewable energy use, making it a standout among large cities in the U.S,” said Paul McRandle, senior editor of NRDC’s Smarter Cities project.

Learn more about the Smarter Cities rankings.

View the Mayor’s full press release.