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Consumer Technology 2014 US energy efficiency map

Published on October 22nd, 2014 | by Silvio Marcacci

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US Energy Efficiency Ranks Released: How’d Your State Do?

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October 22nd, 2014 by  

Whether you consider energy efficiency the “world’s first fuel,” a sure way to save consumers money, or “negawatts” to build instead of new generation capacity, there’s no dispute reducing power demand is an economic and environmental win – and in America, there’s no bigger winner than Massachusetts.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 8th annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, released today, shows policymakers in most states are taking action to cut energy demand, with Massachusetts retaining its crown as the most energy-efficient state for a remarkable fourth consecutive year.

But while Massachusetts may lead the way, it’s not alone in cutting power use, consumer bills, and emissions. 16 states rose in ACEEE’s energy efficiency rankings, and total electricity efficiency program hit $6.3 billion in funding for 2013, saving 24.3 million megawatt hours (MWh) – a 7% increase over 2011.

Massachusetts, California Top U.S. Energy Efficiency Ranks

ACEEE credits Massachusetts’ Green Communities Act of 2008 for its continued success. The act requires utilities to save an increasing percentage of energy every year through efficiency, which has spurred investments and achieved electricity savings of more than 2% total utility sales. ACEEE gave the state a perfect score for utility efficiency policies and programs, and also noted strong showings in building energy codes as well as combined heat and power (CHP) policy.

California ranked a close second for the fourth consecutive year, unsurprising given its dominance over America’s clean energy economy. ACEEE awarded the Golden State a perfect score in building energy code stringency and compliance, and led the country in transportation efficiency as well as appliance standards. With an ambitious zero-emission vehicle goal and the first U.S. appliance efficiency standards, it’s easy to see the connection between smart policy and clean energy economic growth.

Mainly Winners, But Some Efficiency Losers Across America

Vermont, Rhode Island, and Oregon all improved on last year’s results to tie for third place in this year’s ranking, followed by Connecticut, New York State, Washington State, Maryland, and Minnesota to round out the top ten on the strength of stable policy. These states regularly finish among the most efficient, so it’s also worth noting the four most-improved states.

Arkansas, Washington D.C., Kentucky, and Wisconsin showed the best efficiency improvements in 2013 while demonstrating energy efficiency works regardless of location. Arkansas increased its electric efficiency budgets 30% and tripled savings, while D.C.’s Sustainable Energy Utility program helped it rise nine spots – the most of any location.

Energy Efficiency

Indeed, energy efficiency could have the biggest impact on some of the most traditionally “dirty” energy states – Kentucky and Arkansas are among the Southeast U.S. states enjoying a 387% return on investment from efficiency programs. “We’re happy to see the regional diversity of states moving up the rankings, proving that energy efficiency has been embraced across the country,” said Annie Gilleo, ACEEE analyst.

Unfortunately, the news wasn’t good across America. 23 states fell in the energy efficiency ranks, led by Indiana and Ohio, where state legislators took action to reverse existing efficiency goals. Indiana dropped 13 spots, the most of any state, largely due to its decision to eliminate the state’s long-term energy efficiency goals. Ohio fell seven spots after state policymakers froze the state’s existing energy efficiency resource standard and weaken its long-term targets.

Five Steps To Energy Efficiency Success

While Indiana and Ohio took significant steps back, many states fell in ACEEE’s ranking simply because they didn’t improve compared to their peers. So what policy steps can governments take to keep moving toward a clean energy economy?

ACEEE outlines five strategies: Establish and fund an energy efficiency resource standard (EERS), adopt stringent building energy codes and compliance, set stringent vehicle emissions standards and targets for reducing vehicle miles traveled, treat CHP as an equal energy efficiency resource, and expand visibility for state-led efforts.

Of the four, energy savings targets like EERS create the most investment and policy certainty. The 26 states with EERS policy in place created a staggering 85% of America’s 20 million MWh of energy efficiency savings in 2012, and could save 6.2% of total U.S. electricity sales by 2020.

Although benefits vary with different brands, most cellulose installers boast: improved noise control, better fire resistance, more environmentally friendly (generally composed of recycled materials), more health-friendly (does not contain urethane, formaldehyde or asbestos), and mold and rodent resistance.

But if EERS may have the largest energy savings potential, stringent building codes may have the highest cost savings upside. Buildings use 40% of all energy consumed in America, and a recent estimate from the Institute for Market Transformation estimated bringing one year’s worth of new construction to full compliance would save $189 million, with lifetime savings of up to $37 billion for five years’ worth of new buildings.

Policymakers Choose: Move Forward, Or Fall Behind

The energy and economic savings potential of efficiency, as well as a path to success, is clear. All that’s left is for policymakers to decide if they want their states to move forward or backward.

“More and more governors and state lawmakers understand they have a choice – do nothing as costly energy is wasted or take action by creating incentives to waste less energy,” said Maggie Molina, ACEEE Policy Director. “State action on energy efficiency improves bottom lines, drives investment across all sectors of the economy, creates jobs, and offsets the environmental harms created by energy production.”

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About the Author

Silvio is Principal at Marcacci Communications, a full-service clean energy and climate-focused public relations company based in Washington, D.C.


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  • Offgridman

    I have to agree with Dag Johansen that unfortunately the various standings shown in this map probably coordinate with local and state level politics.
    It was disappointing to see the rating of my state TN, especially with the millions of dollars that came through HUD to help with low income home improvements from the economic stimulus plan over the past few years. But our building codes are abysmal or even non existent in the rural areas, and not likely to change with the republican dominated policy makers. And while not connected to the grid myself from what has been seen of local utility company policies they may talk a good front on utilizing energy efficiency there is very little in the way of direct incentives. Such as rebates or discounts for switching to LED’s, installing heat pumps, or switching to more efficient water heaters. So it still seems like policy as usual, the more Kwh you use the happier they are, especially during the winter when the extra fuel use charges kick in.
    This has been seen with the utility bills sent to my ex wife’s home, the flyers will be included on doing different efficiency measures to keep her bill down, but all of the expense of those improvements is directly at the homeowners responsibility. Where in an area of such high poverty and low income homes the added expense would mean taking the food from the mouths of their kids.

    • Robert Pollock

      The 20th century Petro economy that’s owned and operated by the 1% of the wealthiest Americans, does everything it can to maintain the status quo. They don’t want people to know until they are ready to take control, about the 21st century electric economy that will lead America once again, into the light. Unless we allow those greedy and selfish monsters to gain a monopoly on the electric economy. Warren Buffet is one of America’s heaviest investors in wind turbines, and he’s already made over a billion dollars profit buying and selling a Chinese electric car maker, back in 2009 through 2012 when America didn’t even know what an electric car was. Average Americans have to start paying attention, learning what is really going on, and they have to learn how to think for themselves, rather than parroting party lines from their favorite news program, church gathering, gossip column or right wing radio program.
      Here in California where government (albeit incredibly inefficiently) plays a heavy role in new energy technologies, R&D on all the hardware from PV panels to batteries and electric motors is exploding. Today’s costs for anything are almost irrelevant because it will be less in a few weeks or months.
      All it took to get that ball rolling, was incentives to get America’s ingenious types focused on the problems. My Chevy Spark EV drive line/train is better than the Leaf’s or the Fiat’s, (I don’t know about Ford’s electric car) and it is all American. Invented and built here. (Then it’s shipped to South Korea where it’s installed in a complete car and sent back)
      Elon Musk is about to build the biggest and most advanced battery factory ever, and his cars are things of science fiction, except they’re real and they work. America installed more wind turbine power last year, than anyone else. Those red state citizens have to look beyond the state line, and then ‘get on board’. Stop listening to anyone you’ve been listening to during the past 30 years. They know nothing relevant anymore.

  • Robert Pollock

    I’m looking at the fellow above, blowing in attic insulation exactly how you’re not supposed to do it. The roof must remain cold to prevent ice dams, that means maintaining the already minimal air space above the insulation, and below the roof sheathing. Canadian code calls for a 4″ space, most older houses have 2″ or less, and this house will have zero space, when this guy is finished. No big deal, after the boys come to rebuild the rotted roof, they’ll suck all the insulation out, install or build something to maintain that airway, and then re-insulate. It’s the American way, act now, think later.

    • Offgridman

      Or possibly it is an area in the southern half of the US where the buildup of ice on the roof is never an issue. I have seen in the advertising for mobile homes in the Southeast where the space between the ceiling and roof area being totally filled with insulation is seen as a positive.
      It is kind of hard to derive such heavy criticism from just a picture that you don’t know where it was taken.

      • Robert Pollock

        It doesn’t matter if the climate is hot or cold. The insulation protects the conditioned space under it from either too hot or too cold air above it. The too hot air has to be vented out too. Here in Palm Springs, they block all the soffit vents, like the guy in the picture is doing. Our attic gets to 150F (I haven’t measured it exactly) and tinder dry. Did you know that Spruce/Pine/Fur (SPF) framing lumber can burst into flames at temperatures around 180F, if they’re dry enough? Whole house fans and attic fans are different; One takes too warm air from the conditioned space, the other from the attic and it’s all we have to get that hot air out. A solar powered unit from Costco is about $250.00

        Properly vented soffits and a serious ridge vent would take care of all that without any expenditures or moving parts.

  • Dag Johansen

    It is always funny how these maps look just like red/blue political maps.

    • Robert Pollock

      I’d say that using stronger words, like why do the red states revel in backwardness? People aren’t more stupid there than anywhere else. Who influences or decides for them, how Luddite they’ll be? Here in California we have good friends who refuse to acknowledge that there is an energy revolution going on. (I’ve been waiting twenty-five years)
      They seem to think that acknowledgement equals defeat of their ideals, so they just bought a giant Jeep Cherokee, and went on a month long drive thru the northwest. Thousands of dollars for gasoline.
      Richard and I shoot pool every 2nd Wednesday. When it’s my turn to drive, we use my Chevy Spark EV. I don’t say anything about not buying gasoline for 11 months, I’m waiting for him to discover what saving $3000 a year is like. Fervent god worshipers and staunch Republicans, why do they hurt themselves and others so?

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