Texas came in 40th in a new study by the personal-finance website WalletHub that analyzed 48 states in terms of home and auto energy efficiency.
The Lone Star State had an overall score of 36.36 out of 100. That compares to 83.91 for Utah, the state ranked the most energy-efficient, WalletHub reported. Texas ranked 36th in the nation on home energy efficiency and 44th for auto energy efficiency, the study concluded.
The average American household spends about $2,000 on utilities, with the majority of the utility expenses being for heating and cooling, according to WalletHub. On average, U.S. consumers also spent $1,568 on fuel and motor oil last year, the report said.
Energy-efficiency efforts can cut households’ utility costs by about one-quarter, the WalletHub analysis found. In addition, the use of more fuel-efficient cars and trucks can save drivers $788 annually, according to the study.
WalletHub’s study on which states are getting the most out of their energy use did not include Hawaii and Alaska due to inadequate data.
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Which States Are the Most Energy-Efficient?
Overall Rank (1=Most Efficient) | State | Total Score | Home Energy Efficiency Rank | Auto Energy Efficiency Rank |
1 | Utah | 83.91 | 1 | 8 |
2 | New York | 82.05 | 3 | 2 |
3 | Massachusetts | 79.72 | 9 | 1 |
4 | Minnesota | 77.42 | 2 | 26 |
5 | Rhode Island | 76.45 | 6 | 6 |
6 | Colorado | 75.68 | 4 | 15 |
7 | Vermont | 74.6 | 5 | 12 |
8 | Wisconsin | 72.54 | 7 | 17 |
9 | California | 71.88 | 14 | 4 |
10 | Connecticut | 68.28 | 17 | 7 |
11 | Maine | 67.81 | 10 | 24 |
12 | Nevada | 66.98 | 15 | 14 |
13 | Illinois | 66.94 | 18 | 9 |
14 | New Hampshire | 64.67 | 12 | 29 |
15 | Michigan | 63.98 | 19 | 18 |
16 | New Jersey | 63.46 | 20 | 19 |
17 | Maryland | 60.73 | 28 | 10 |
18 | Pennsylvania | 60.21 | 23 | 21 |
19 | Oregon | 59.75 | 24 | 20 |
20 | Washington | 59.73 | 27 | 13 |
21 | Florida | 58 | 34 | 3 |
22 | South Dakota | 57.55 | 8 | 46 |
23 | Arizona | 57.03 | 30 | 16 |
24 | Iowa | 56.07 | 11 | 45 |
25 | Ohio | 55.58 | 29 | 23 |
26 | Idaho | 55.53 | 21 | 36 |
27 | Indiana | 53.17 | 32 | 22 |
28 | Kansas | 51.94 | 31 | 31 |
29 | Montana | 51.17 | 22 | 42 |
30 | New Mexico | 50.99 | 25 | 37 |
31 | Nebraska | 49.01 | 26 | 40 |
32 | Delaware | 48.29 | 33 | 33 |
33 | Virginia | 47.69 | 35 | 25 |
34 | North Dakota | 46.45 | 13 | 47 |
35 | North Carolina | 44.02 | 40 | 11 |
36 | Missouri | 42.05 | 38 | 30 |
37 | Georgia | 39.24 | 44 | 5 |
38 | Wyoming | 37.88 | 16 | 48 |
39 | Oklahoma | 36.68 | 37 | 38 |
40 | Texas | 36.36 | 36 | 44 |
41 | Kentucky | 34.58 | 41 | 34 |
42 | Arkansas | 32.31 | 42 | 35 |
43 | Mississippi | 31.63 | 39 | 41 |
44 | Louisiana | 31.22 | 45 | 27 |
45 | Tennessee | 30.43 | 46 | 28 |
46 | Alabama | 29.05 | 47 | 32 |
47 | West Virginia | 24.2 | 43 | 43 |
48 | South Carolina | 21.49 | 48 | 39 |