Eric Eastman watches as Matt Smith installs a high-efficiency water heater in his Bellevue, Wash. home. The cost was offset by a utility's rebate. Such incentive programs are considered one reason Northwest states rank high for energy conservation.
credit:
Katie Campbell
Northwest states lead the nation in energy efficiency, according to a new report out Wednesday. For six years Oregon and Washington have broken the top 10 in state energy efficiency rankings:
Oregon: 4
Washington: 8
Idaho: 22
Ben Foster wrote the report for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. He said Pacific Northwest states fared well for a couple reasons. For one: Utilities are doing a good job getting customers to switch to less energy-consuming appliances, heating, and cooling systems. And many cities have building codes that require energy-efficient construction.
Foster says one goal of his group’s state ranking is to highlight ideas like these so they can spread across the country.
“A lot of the innovation that happens with policies and programs happens at the state level and is sometimes adopted at the federal level,” he said.
For that reason, Foster said, the studied highlighted Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber’s 10-year energy action plan. Foster says 24 states have comprehensive energy efficiency resource standards.
This year, Massachusetts ranked first. Mississippi came in last.
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