In terms of total energy consumption per capita within these 19 states, New York is the most efficient, California is second, and Texas is the least efficient. California's combined residential and commercial per capita consumption is far less than any other state. In spite of its economic and population growth, a variety of policies and incentives have helped California remain among the most energy-efficient states. They include the earliest state appliance efficiency standards, energy-efficient building codes, and support for utilities energy efficiency programs. A state s energy efficiency ranking depends on a number of additional factors.
Climate is among the most important.
Hot-climate states with high air conditioning loads use a lot of energy. The state s commitment to promoting energy-efficient practices also plays a role.