These states rank as the most energy-efficient in 2025, data shows

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FILE-Workers install solar panels on a home. (James MacDonald/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Finding ways to conserve energy is not only beneficial for your home but your finances given the high costs of utility bills, with the Department of Energy releasing a report last year revealing that the average family spends about $2,000 annually on utilities.

Being energy efficient varies and WalletHub released a new report to find out which states are the most effective when it comes to reducing their energy usage. 

RELATED: These are the greenest cities in the U.S. in 2025, data shows

The personal finance website created a ranking of the top energy-efficient states by comparing 48 states across two categories: home energy efficiency and auto efficiency. 

WalletHub explains in its report that Alaska and Hawaii aren’t included in their assessment because of data limitations. 

Top energy-efficient states in 2025

Why you should care:

WalletHub collected data by evaluating the total residential energy consumption and annual car miles driven and gas usage to determine vehicle-fuel efficiency and transportation efficiency. Each category was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best energy-efficiency for a state.

Here are the rankings of the top states: 

1. Vermont
2. California
3. Washington
4. New York
5. Massachusetts
6. Colorado
7. Utah
8. Oregon
9. Minnesota
10. Nevada
11. Rhode Island
12. Wisconsin
13. Maine
14. Illinois
15. South Dakota
16. Idaho
17. Michigan
18. New Hampshire
19. Maryland
20. New Jersey

To see the complete list of states, click here. 

WalletHub’s analysis of the top energy-efficient states

Big picture view:

WalletHub ranked Vermont, California, and Washington as its top three states for energy efficiency, and the team provided a breakdown of their findings.

Vermont

WalletHub ranked Vermont as the most energy-efficient state, primarily because it’s the most vehicle-fuel efficient in the nation. Residents in the state drive an average of 21 miles per gallon of gasoline, more than any other U.S. state.

The state also has the seventh-lowest residential energy consumption per capita, along with the second-highest home energy efficiency, WalletHub noted. 

California

California is the second on the list with the lowest residential energy consumption per capita and the fourth-highest home energy efficiency.

WalletHub noted that state residents are efficient when it comes to cars because they drive fewer miles annually than drivers in all but four other states, an average of just 8,068 miles per year. The state also has the seventh-highest vehicle fuel efficiency.

Washington

According to WalletHub, Washington earned the ranking as the third-most energy-efficient state for home and automobile efficiency. Washington has the third-lowest residential energy consumption, and the eighth-best home energy efficiency. 

Residents use little energy in their homes and regarding car usage, drivers in the state travel an average of 7,726 miles annually, the fourth fewest in the U.S. WalletHub noted that Washington also has the 17th-best fuel efficiency based on the amount of gas used per mile driven.