According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Massachusetts is the most energy-efficient state in the nation!
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington DC. Founded in 1980, the group has an important and timely mission as explained on its About Us page:
ACEEE “…acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. We believe that the United States can harness the full potential of energy efficiency to achieve greater economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection for all its people.”
Mass is the #1 Energy Efficient State in the Union for the ninth year in a row
It was in 2007 when ACEEE came out with its first State Energy Efficiency Scorecard report. 2019 was the 13th time ACEEE collected data and analyzed it in order to rank each state on how well it does in terms of policies and programs to achieve greater energy efficiency. Perhaps what’s most impressive about The Bay State’s most recent achievement is that it’s not the first time Massachusetts has been the top-ranked energy-efficient state. In fact, this is the ninth year in a row Massachusetts has come out at the top of ACEEE’s energy-efficiency rankings! Here’s the nutshell about it from the 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard:
“First place goes to Massachusetts, which leads the State Scorecard for the ninth year in a row. Thanks to a strong policy framework established under its Green Communities Act a decade ago, the state continues to achieve among the highest levels of utility savings in the nation. Earlier in the year, regulators approved a new three-year efficiency plan, including an expanded portfolio of programs intended to help align savings efforts with statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals. Massachusetts aims to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.”
So what exactly is The Bay State doing that has vaulted it to the top of the energy-efficiency rankings?
How the Bay State Becomes More Energy Efficient
The scorecard examines six different categories of policies and programs aimed at energy-efficiency in each state. Here are the six categories and how Massachusetts stacks up in each:
- Utility programs: Out of 20 possible points, Massachusetts got all 20. The only other state to get all 20 points was Rhode Island. We’ve got great programs to help homeowners, landlords, and businesses save on their utilities.
- Transportation: The Bay State got 8.5 points out of a possible 10, as did New York and California. The only place to do better was Washington DC, which scored 9. But this is one area where improvement could be made.
- Building energy codes: Massachusetts received 7 points out a possible 8, as did New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The only state to do better was California at 7.5 points.
- Combined heat and power: Here The Bay State got 3 out of 3 points, as did California, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. Combined heat and power or CHP systems are those that generate both thermal energy and electricity in a single, integrated system.
- State government policies: Massachusetts got 6 out of 6 points in this category, as did quite a few other states (CA, RI, VT, CT, and DE).
- Appliance standards: Out of a possible 3 points, Massachusetts scored 0 points, so this is another place where improvements could be made. There are models out there for this, too, such as the one state that did get all 3 points in this category – California.
As you can see from the above, in many cases Massachusetts mostly just has to maintain what it’s already doing, though there are few areas where improvements are needed.
Being More Energy Efficient is a Win-Win
Perhaps one of the most important points for both residents and businesses to understand is how investing in being more energy efficient now saves you money immediately and moves forward into the future.
Energy efficiency is a win-win because it’s widely known and accepted that it just makes good sense both economically and environmentally. Everyone knows that burning fossil fuels for heat and electricity has a negative environmental impact through the pollution that affects human health and the sustainability of ecosystems. Energy efficiency is a great way to burn less of those fuels as we continue to make progress in transitioning away from polluting energy sources and towards renewable energy sources that have a far smaller environmental impact.
It’s nice when doing the right thing for people and the planet also puts more money in your pocket by reducing your utility bills! When you think of it that way, why wouldn’t you take some steps to become more energy-efficient – especially when some of the steps won’t even cost you anything, as you’ll find out about below.
You Can Play a Part in Keeping Mass #1
NEEECO is proud to be an energy-efficiency service provider here in The Bay State, and we want you to know how you can play a vital role in helping keep Massachusetts the #1 most energy-efficient state in the nation – and save yourself some money at the same time!
There are all kinds of things we can do to help you be more energy efficient in your home, from things as simple as sealing up leaks to things as advanced as installing a home solar energy system. But in order for you to know your options, you first need to find out your starting point. This is why the most important step you can take right now is to schedule a no-cost Mass Save® home energy assessment.
You might be wondering why it’s called “no-cost.” Why do we offer this valuable service without asking you to pay us for it? The answer is simple: You’ve actually already paid for it! Each month when you pay your electric bill, there’s a small fee included that helps fund the Mass Save® program, and that’s the program we partner with to conduct our home energy assessment for you.
We’ll inspect your home and provide you with a report that includes all kinds of energy-saving recommendations. We’ll even do some things on the spot to help get you started, like installing LED light bulbs, giving you advanced power strips, and installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads. We can even come back for a follow-up visit where we put in programmable thermostats so you can have greater control over your indoor climate, such as backing down the heat at night or when you’re going to be at work all day.
Let us help you save money and play your part in keeping Massachusetts the most energy-efficient state in the nation!
Call (781) 514-5882 or contact us to get started with a no-cost Mass Save® home energy assessment.