GHG reduction efforts, building code improvements cited as major drivers of efficiency gains.
For the fifth consecutive year, Massachusetts is ranked the most efficient state in the country, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. Rounding out the top ten for 2015 are California, Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington, New York, and Minnesota and Illinois tied for tenth.
The Scorecard’s authors note that California came in just half a point behind Massachusetts for the lead, and is also one of the most improved states this year due to GHG emission reduction requirements and the implementation of a cap-and-trade program. Additionally, Texas, Illinois, and the District of Columbia are noted as other examples of states making positive gains for energy efficiency, with Illinois and Texas implementing new, more efficient building codes and D.C. taking the top spot for most improved due to progress in a variety of policy areas and improvements in the DC Sustainable Energy Utility programs.
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