How energy efficient is your state?

States now spend about three times more each year on energy-efficiency programs than the federal government and are leading the way on appliance standards, building codes, tax incentives, and other key energy policies, according to a recently released study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). "States are leading the nation in mining efficiency as the ‘first fuel' in the race to solve America's energy security and global-warming challenges," said ACEEE Acting Executive Director Bill Prindle.

The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard for 2006 also ranks and grades each state and the District of Columbia for energy-efficiency standards and policies.

Generally, states with limited local supplies of fossil fuels are more efficient than those with local access to abundant amounts of energy sources like coal and oil. This fact is borne out in the dramatic gap between the most and least energy-efficient states. Top-ranking California, Connecticut, and Vermont each had an efficiency score of 33 out of 44, while the bottom three—Mississippi, North Dakota, and Wyoming—came in at 1, 1, and 0.5, respectively.

Most-energy-efficient states:

• California
• Connecticut
• Vermont
• Massachusetts
• Oregon
• New York
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island
• Minnesota

Least-energy-efficient states:

• Alaska
• Tennessee
• Oklahoma
• Arkansas
• Missouri
• Alabama
• South Dakota
• Mississippi
• Wyoming
• North Dakota

What You Can Do
Some simple ways to cut energy use and save money include turning off lights and air conditioners when you're not home and unplugging the TV, computer, and cell-phone chargers when you're on vacation or away for an extended period. Replacing incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescents is another easy way to cut consumption.

Also be sure to properly maintain your appliances, which will help them run more efficiently—and last longer. And if you need to replace your water heater, read our buying advice to ensure you find the right model.

Have your furnace or boiler and central-air-conditioning system inspected before you start them up each season.

Finally, take advantage of tax credits from Uncle Sam and your state. You could end up saving money when you buy certain equipment or undertake specific projects, like adding insulation.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman

Essential information: Visit GreenerChoices.org for the latest news on environmental issues and expert advice on ways to save energy and money every day.