RI Named One Of The Most Energy Efficient States In The U.S.

Rhode Island is one of the most energy-efficient state in the country, according to a new ranking by WalletHub. The Ocean State ranked fifth overall.

The personal finance website weighed several factors to determine the ranking, including home energy consumption per capita, vehicle fuel efficiency and the number of miles driven each year per capita. According to the findings, the average American household spends around $2,000 per year on home utilities, and $2,094 annually for gas and motor oil. Because of data issues, Alaska and Hawaii were not included in the final ranking.

Utah came in first place, followed by New York. Neighboring Massachusetts was ranked third, followed by Minnesota. Rhode Island rounds out the top five. At the other end of the list, South Carolina was named the least energy-efficient state in the country, followed by West Virginia.

Sarah Jacobson, an associate professor of economics at Williams College, encouraged homeowners to take small steps to help reduce their energy sonsumption.

"One small but good thing is LED lightbulbs," Jacobson said. "For years now, their low price and huge energy savings have had them 'in the money' relative to traditional ones, and they now come in a variety of light types, so are no longer as harsh and unpleasant as they used to be."

See the full ranking on WalletHub's website.