Vermont ranked third in a national survey on how states are improving energy efficiency, an improvement from its showing the previous year.
The Washington, D.C.-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its eighth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard last week. It ranks states on utility and public benefits programs and policies, transportation policies, building energy codes and compliance, combined heat and power policies, state initiatives around energy efficiency and appliance and equipment standards.
Vermont gained four places from last year, finishing in a tie with Rhode Island and Oregon. Massachusetts placed first in the rankings.
“Vermont saw a notable rise in the rankings due to its strong performance in the utilities sector and its ongoing adoption of more-stringent building energy codes,” the report states.
To improve the state’s rank further, ACEEE says Vermont should adopt mandatory building energy codes for new residential and commercial buildings.
The report credits Vermont for using an efficiency utility, Efficiency Vermont, to provide rebates to electric and heating customers who make energy-saving improvements. The money is collected, in part, through a charge on electric bills.
“This ranking confirms what we know is true, that Vermont continues to be a leader nationally in energy efficiency,” Gov. Peter Shumlin said in a statement. “Efficiency continues to provide the biggest bang for the buck when it comes to energy investments, saving Vermonters money while supporting jobs and cutting carbon emissions.”
The report found Vermont saved 99,074 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2013 through efficiency programs, or about 1.8 percent of total electric retail sales. The report also found Vermont saved 0.08 million British thermal units of heat, or about 1.5 percent of total retail sales.