Massachusetts is the most energy efficient state and South Carolina is the least, according to new data analysis from WalletHub.
The personal finance web site examined home and vehicle energy consumption data from government sources for its analysis. For the home efficiency score, the report compares per capita residential energy consumption with annual heating and cooling degree days. Its results do not include Alaska or Hawaii.
Rounding out the five most-efficient states in WalletHub’s analysis were New York, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont. California ranked 6th. On the other end, Alabama, West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi were among the least-efficient.
WalletHub’s conclusions are similar to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s own 2020 assessment of state energy efficiency policies and program performance.
California topped ACEEE’s 2020 rankings, followed by Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island and New York. South Carolina ranked 40th.
Energy efficiency can have big impacts on consumer bills heading into the winter. The average U.S. family “spends at least $2,000 per year on utilities,” according to the finance site. “Heating and cooling of spaces alone accounting for more than half the bill.”
U.S. consumers are already struggling with high energy prices. Data from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association shows utility arrearages rose to $16 billion in August, roughly doubling since the end of 2019.
