Washington Is 2024’s Most Energy-Efficient State

The personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2024’s Most & Least Energy-Efficient States, as well as commentary, to see which states save people the most money while also saving the environment.

WalletHub compared the energy efficiency of residents’ homes and automobiles in 48 U.S. states. Due to data limitations, Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from our analysis.

Energy Efficiency in Washington (1=Most Energy-Efficient; 24=Avg.)

⦁    Overall rank for Washington: 1st

⦁    2nd – Home Energy Efficiency

⦁    20th – Vehicle-Fuel Efficiency

⦁    3rd – Transportation Efficiency

 “Washington is the most energy-efficient state overall, ranking very well for both home and automobile efficiency. Washington has the third-lowest residential energy consumption overall, and the second-best home energy efficiency. When it comes to vehicles, Washingtonians drive an average of just 7,606 miles per year, the third-fewest in the country. They also have the 20th-best fuel efficiency based on the amount of gas consumed per mile driven.” - Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

 What energy-efficient products for the home offer the best return on investment?

⦁  “Focus on the big energy users – air conditioning and heating. Replacing a well-functioning ‘good’ with an ‘efficient’ system is probably not going to pay you back very quickly, but when it is time to replace an old system, it is worth spending the extra money on an energy-efficient model. Same for clothes dryers, washers, and fridges. Among the best payback investments are simple interventions like rim joist insulation in the basement, or attic insulation. That is where cold drafty air enters your house in the winter, or hot air in the summer. Not the type of new device to impress your neighbors, but financially among the most attractive energy-efficiency investments.”  - Arthur van Benthem – Associate Professor, The University of Pennsylvania

⦁  “There are numerous energy-efficient technologies that are highly cost-effective today, even more so given the major government rebates and tax credits offered under the Inflation Reduction Act. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebates Program is available for low- and middle-income taxpayers and will be administered by state agencies. These include large rebates for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electrical panels, electrical wiring, and insulation, air sealing, and mechanical ventilation products. The IRS also offers generous tax credits for more efficient air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, and for a variety of Energy Star building envelope components.” --Barry D. Solomon, Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, Michigan Technological University

What is the biggest mistake consumers make when trying to make their homes more energy efficient?

⦁   “Often consumers focus on big items and neglect the simple ones, such as weatherization to prevent airflow. Another mistake is to try to do it all yourself rather than getting an inexpensive home energy audit that can guide the decisions of which investments to make to cater them entirely to the home.” --Kenneth Gillingham – Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Professor, Yale University

⦁  “Many people focus on expensive projects that save very little energy. For example, replacing windows is very costly (think about how many you have in your house!), and the impact on energy bills is negligible. Sometimes a simpler solution, like adding a door in your drafty hallway area, is cheaper and more effective.” --Arthur van Benthem – Associate Professor, The University of Pennsylvania

What are some tips for consumers to become more energy efficient, especially if they work from home?

⦁  “Hiring someone to perform a home energy audit is a great way to start. The local utility company may be able to help. Other ideas include: turn off lights when not in use, upgrade to LED lightbulbs, don’t run the dishwasher or washing machine with less than full loads, wash clothes in cold water when possible, caulk and weatherstrip gaps and cracks around doors and windows, install a programmable thermostat, perform periodic maintenance on air conditioning units (e.g., clean or replace filters and vents), and adjust the temperature on air conditioners, thermostats and water heaters so you do not overcool or overheat more than necessary.” --Barry D. Solomon, Ph.D. – Professor Emeritus, Michigan Technological University

⦁  “Remember that you do not need a home temperature of 72 degrees all year if you change what you wear at home. 68 is perfectly fine with a comfortable sweater; and so is 76 with light summer clothing. This will save you a lot of money.” --Arthur van Benthem – Associate Professor, The University of Pennsylvania

For the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-energy-efficient-states/7354Washington 

FYI: Report on Home Improvement Spending 

Key National Takeaways, according to Home Mortgage Disclosure stats

Amid high interest rates and elevated prices, 2023 was a down year for home improvement spending. According to loan-level data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the total number of single-family home improvement loans originated in the U.S. declined from nearly 745,000 in 2022 to just 565,000.

Homeowners in Utah and Idaho—two of the top 10 fastest-growing states—managed to take out 17.0 and 13.0 home improvement loans per 1,000 homeowners, respectively—approximately 2X the national average of 6.9 home improvement loans per 1,000 homeowners. The Salt Lake City metro invested most into home improvements among all large U.S. metros, where 15.3 home improvement loans originated per 1,000 homeowners. The Portland (5th), Denver (8th), and Seattle (11th) metros also invested heavily. Other top locations included Mountain West and Pacific Northwest states in Oregon, Colorado, and Washington, as well as Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts in New England.

You can read the full study here, including all sources: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/cities-investing-most-in-home-improvements