The Top 10 Energy-Efficient States

This is the ninth year that the ACEEE has compiled the ranking based on the six policy areas in which states typically pursue energy efficiency: utility and public benefits, transportation, building energy codes and compliance, combined heat and power (CHP), state government–led initiatives around energy efficiency, and appliance and equipment standards. The report was published Wednesday and covers the 2014 calendar year.

The ACEEE especially noted that savings from electricity efficiency programs increased by 5.8% to 25.7 million megawatt-hours. That is equivalent to a reduction of 0.7% total U.S. retail sales of electricity. Natural gas savings increased by 35% year over year in 2014.

According to the ACEEE, 20 states rose in the rankings this year, led by California, which introduced requirements for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, made major efforts to achieve energy efficiency in schools and implemented a cap-and-trade program. The ACEEE also noted efforts in Maryland, Illinois, the District of Columbia and Texas:

Maryland increased its commitment to energy efficiency in 2015 by establishing new, more aggressive energy savings targets for utilities. Illinois is one of the first states to adopt the newest building energy codes, and has increased the amount of energy efficiency available to utilities through procurement agreements with the Illinois Power Agency. Like Illinois, Texas has been aggressive in adopting the latest building energy codes, and has also taken notable actions to ensure code compliance across the state. The District of Columbia is among the most improved for the second year in a row, due to its progress across a number of policy areas and the ramping up of DC Sustainable Energy Utility programs.

Here are the top 10 energy-efficient states:

1. Massachusetts
2. California
3. Oregon
4. Rhode Island
5. Vermont
6. Connecticut
7. New York
8. Washington
9. Maryland
10. Minnesota & Illinois

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The ACEEE also ranks large U.S. cities, and the top 10 for 2014 are:

1. Boston
2. New York City
3. Washington, D.C.
4. San Francisco
5. Seattle
6. Chicago
7. Minneapolis
8. Portland
9. Austin
10. Denver