This article is by Tom Momberg, of the Bennington Banner, in which it was first published Oct. 9, 2014.
BURLINGTON — A WalletHub study published this week ranked Vermont the most energy-efficient state when stacked up nationally.
WalletHub’s ranking system and data-gathering strategy is straightforward, but only reveals a small picture of Vermont’s status as an energy-efficiency leader. Ongoing initiatives by the state government and the nonprofit Efficiency Vermont reveal a more entrenched cultural trend aimed at energy efficiency in Vermont.
“In the energy-efficiency community abroad, Vermont has always been a leader, so I don’t think this study’s results are a surprise,” said Efficiency Vermont public affairs manager Kelly Lucci. “This type of recognition results from long-term work and partnerships … Efficiency Vermont is glad to be helping drive that recognition by connecting Vermonters with the information and support they need to lower their energy usage and costs.”
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy also publishes an annual scorecard for each state, in which Vermont is consistently named a leader in energy efficiency. That scorecard ranked Vermont as seventh in 2013.
The ACEEE takes into account each state’s utility programs, transportation policies and public transit, building codes, combined heat and power use, state initiatives and appliance standards.
For the past decade, Vermont has been considered a leader in many of those subjects, but has fallen behind several other states.
Though Vermont remains a leader and taught its success to its New England neighbors, it has fallen off the cutting edge in energy policy, lowering in ACEEE ranking every year.
WalletHub’s study looks at a more intimate picture between the average citizen and energy efficiency, to which Lucci said, “It’s great to see these efforts continue to bear fruit.”
Even if the state of Vermont is no longer the national leader in energy efficiency policy, Vermonters lead the nation in energy efficiency in their day to day.
Lucci said it is much easier for Vermonters to make energy efficient choices compared to other states. For example, LED light bulbs in Vermont are subsidized at a flat rate of $5 a bulb, a fraction of the actual cost.
WalletHub takes a look at different data than the ACEEE, but boasts Vermont as the ranking leader. WalletHub compared each state by home-energy efficiency and car-energy efficiency, both ranked very high in Vermont.
For the home energy efficiency rating, the WalletHub study took into account the ratio of the total residential energy consumption per capita to the number of annual degree days, a quantitative index taken from daily temperature observations, and reflects the demand for energy. The study did not take into account commercial or industrial data.
For the car energy efficiency rating, the study took into account the ratio of annual vehicle miles driven in that state to the gallons of gasoline consumed, according to Federal Highway Administration data. The study did not take into account energy use from electric, commercial or alternatively fueled vehicles.
To calculate the overall ranking of each state, the study weighted the home energy efficiency rating by 5.5, to the 4.5 weight given to the car energy efficiency rating.
WalletHub publishes media related to personal finance, so the energy efficiency study focused on home and car-energy efficiency data. According to WalletHub communications manager Raz Daraban, the focus of the study was on these two energy-efficiency subjects, because they are directly linked to the financial status of average American households.
Find the WalletHub Study online. Find the ACEEE scorecard online here.
Visit Efficiency Vermont online here to learn more about the state’s energy initiatives.
