New ranking shows Texas is among the least energy-efficient states

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.

---

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

Source: WalletHub.com