New York ranked as the third most energy-efficient state for the third consecutive year, according to an annual scorecard published by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, a nonprofit that provides businesses and government with policy research, communications and technical assistance in energy efficiency.
The scorecard grades states based on strategic solutions for a cleaner and greener environment including cutting down energy waste, adding energy efficient technologies and implementing state policies that affect homes, businesses, industries and transportation systems.
For the fourth year, Massachusetts took the lead in energy efficiency followed by California. New York moved up three ranks within the past five years, and Connecticut ranked fifth, up from sixth place last year.
The Washington, D.C.-based ACEEE ranks each state based on the following six criteria:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utility and public benefits programs and policies
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Transportation policies
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Building energy codes
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Combined heat and power policies
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â State government-led initiatives around energy efficiency
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Appliance and equipment standards
The five states that needed the most improvements this year were North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska and Mississippi. Â Mississippi is also on the list of most improved states along with Maine, Kansas, Ohio and West Virginia.
New York state”™s energy efficiency programs began in 1996 with the state Public Service Commission, the regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the state”™s utilities industries. The commission in 2008 established an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard for the state’s eledctricla and natural gas utilities with the goal of cutting down the state”™s energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order this year requiring state agencies to raise the energy efficiency level of their buildings by 20 percent by 2020, making energy efficiency a standard part of the capital project planning process.
Build Smart NY, a program created this year by the governor, is one of the state’s newest energy efficiency strategies.  It prioritizes identifying ways to retrofit the largest, least energy efficient buildings first. Some of the efficiency measures include lighting upgrades, advanced heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, efficient electric motors, and automated energy management systems.
“Through Build Smart NY, state government can produce significant savings for New York taxpayers and generate thousands of jobs, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 8 million metric tons – which is the same as taking one million cars off the road for one year,” Cuomo said in a written statement. “Furthermore, most of the projects will pay for themselves as their energy savings will cover their costs, making this initiative a financial and environmental win-win for New Yorkers.”
The state’s energy efficiency programs are funded through surcharges on retail sales of electricity and natural gas. The New York Power Authority also set aside $450 million in low-cost financing, for state agencies making capital investments in energy-saving projects.
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