Happy National Energy Awareness Month! With 26% of U.S. electricity generation expected to come from renewables in 2026, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Most & Least Energy-Efficient States, as well as expert commentary.
To gauge the financial impact of doing more with less energy — the average American household spends at least $2,000 per year on utilities and another $3,120 on motor fuel and oil — WalletHub compared the auto- and home-energy efficiency in 48 U.S. states. Due to data limitations, Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from our analysis.
Energy Efficiency in New York (1=Most Energy-Efficient; 24=Avg.)
- Overall rank for New York: 4th
- 13th – Home Energy Efficiency
- 24th – Vehicle-Fuel Efficiency
- 1st – Transportation Efficiency
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-energy-efficient-states/7354.
Expert Commentary
What energy-efficient products for the home offer the best return on investment?
“Weather stripping, insulation, LED bulbs, low flow shower heads to save on water heating. Depending on the location, replacing your oil or gas heater with a heat pump can save money on heating and provide efficient air conditioning at the same time.”
Erin Baker – Distinguished Professor, The UMass Amherst College of Engineering
“High efficiency AC and heating. In other words, get a high efficiency HVAC system for the home if you currently have a system that is old or inefficient (ideally one that needs to be replaced soon anyway). Make sure to get a programmable thermostat. This will reduce wasted heating/cooling when you are not at home. Simpler items: Install more insulation and seal leaks. This will reduce heating & cooling costs and can cut energy loss by 25-40%. This can have a ROI of up to 100%, depending how under-insulated the home is. Install energy-efficient windows and exterior doors, especially if the current ones are old. This option can be expensive. Buy Energy-Star Certified appliances.”
Betty Simkins, PhD – Professor Oklahoma State University and Russell Simkins, Retired Energy Consultant
What is the biggest mistake consumers make when trying to make their homes more energy efficient?
“Installing new windows. Usually, the return on investment is small. Purchasing items that claim to perform miracles always is a mistake.”
Kenneth Hellevang, Ph.D., PE – Retired Extension Engineer; Emeritus Professor, North Dakota State University
“Even if consumers use high energy efficient appliances at home, they may not give attention to the overall system like location of the appliances, sealing, insulation, etc.”
Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara, FIEEE – Distinguished Professor, University of Houston
Should the government continue to incentivize consumers and businesses to invest in energy-efficient projects?
“Absolutely. Programs like the Weatherization Assistance Project have had lasting impacts, reducing energy bills for low income consumers permanently. Energy efficiency also has what are called ‘externalities’ – if one house is inefficient, this drives up energy costs for other houses. Energy efficiency reduces the total energy we need to stay at the same comfort level. This is particularly important in New England and other cold climates in the winter, when heating prices can get very high. Energy efficiency can also reduce the ‘peak load’ – the highest hours of demand, often during the hottest days of summer. These peak loads ultimately have a large impact on energy bills; and they can lead to rolling blackouts. Energy efficiency is the first line of defense.”
Erin Baker – Distinguished Professor, The UMass Amherst College of Engineering
“Yes, to a reasonable level. Major purchases such as a new furnace, should be energy efficient, but savings in energy will not and should not enable replacing a good functioning furnace.”
Kenneth Hellevang, Ph.D., PE – Retired Extension Engineer; Emeritus Professor, North Dakota State University