Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 2023 U.S. State Investments in Energy Efficiency
- Top-Performing States
- Scoring Criteria
- Support for Low-Income Households
- Mysa’s Role in Utility Partnerships
- The Value of Demand Response Programs
- Looking Ahead
1. Introduction
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released its 2025 State Scorecard for Energy Efficiency. This report outlines national trends, investment figures, and rankings across U.S. states, offering a clear view of progress in residential and commercial energy efficiency.
2. 2023 U.S. State Investments in Energy Efficiency
In 2023, U.S. states invested $8.8 billion in energy efficiency programs. This figure underscores the growing commitment at the state level to reduce energy consumption, improve infrastructure, and meet long-term climate targets.
3. Top-Performing States
The states leading the way in energy efficiency share several common characteristics: strong policy frameworks, ongoing investments in building performance, and integrated utility programs. Here's a closer look at what sets the top 10 apart:
- California – Continues to lead with aggressive building codes, appliance standards, and decarbonization mandates. California also integrates energy efficiency with climate resilience strategies.
- Massachusetts – Maintains high scores through its three-year energy efficiency plans, strong utility program oversight, and electrification incentives.
- New York – Drives efficiency through its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which sets ambitious emissions goals and supports deep retrofits.
- Vermont – Leverages statewide energy efficiency utilities like Efficiency Vermont to deliver measurable savings and innovation in rural contexts.
- Maryland – Invests heavily in low-income programs and regularly updates building performance standards.
- Washington – Pairs progressive clean energy policy with customer-centric utility programs, particularly in the areas of electrification and demand response.
- Colorado – Excels in integrating energy efficiency into utility planning and offers targeted programs for hard-to-reach markets.
- New Jersey – Achieved major gains in appliance standards and utility-funded low-income efficiency programs.
- Oregon – A leader in energy code adoption and early implementation of performance standards for existing buildings.
- Minnesota – Focuses on community-based outreach and strong partnerships between utilities and local governments to implement programs.
These states demonstrate that combining policy leadership with robust program delivery can yield measurable results across residential, commercial, and public sectors.
4. Scoring Criteria
ACEEE’s Scorecard evaluates states across multiple categories, offering a holistic view of energy efficiency policy and implementation:
- New Construction StandardsStates are rewarded for adopting the latest energy codes (such as IECC 2021 or ASHRAE 90.1-2019) and providing support for enforcement and training. These standards ensure that new buildings meet high performance thresholds from day one.
- Existing Building Performance StandardsThis criterion tracks whether states require buildings to report energy usage or comply with minimum performance targets over time. These policies are essential for improving the vast stock of older, inefficient buildings.
- Support for Energy Efficiency in Low-Income HouseholdsStates are evaluated on how much funding and support they dedicate to making energy-saving technologies accessible to income-constrained households—often through weatherization, direct installation programs, and energy education.
- State Appliance StandardsPoints are awarded for adopting or maintaining appliance efficiency standards that go beyond federal baselines. These reduce energy use across homes and businesses without requiring behavioral change.
- Support for Electrification InitiativesElectrification is a growing priority, especially in heating and transportation. States are recognized for programs that encourage switching from fossil fuels to electricity—paired with efficiency—for long-term emissions reductions.
Together, these criteria form a blueprint for how states can drive long-term energy savings and reduce carbon emissions while improving comfort and equity for residents.
5. Support for Low-Income Households
Support for low-income households more than doubled, reaching over $2 billion between 2021 and 2023. This increase reflects a growing recognition of the need for inclusive, equitable access to energy-saving technologies and retrofits.
6. Mysa’s Role in Utility Partnerships
Mysa partners directly with utilities across the U.S. to develop and deploy rebate and incentive programs that improve home energy efficiency and reduce costs.
For example, Mysa works with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and its installation partners to deliver smart thermostats to multi-family low-income housing. Over the past 12 months, more than 18,000 Mysa smart thermostats have been installed through this initiative.
7. The Value of Demand Response Programs
Installing a Mysa smart thermostat is the first step toward improved comfort and energy savings. Enrolling in a Demand Response program—such as PSE’s FlexSmart—unlocks additional benefits.
These programs:
- Help balance grid demand during peak periods
- Involve minor, automatic temperature adjustments
- Allow users to opt out at any time via manual control
Programs like FlexSmart play a vital role in maintaining grid reliability while empowering customers to participate in energy solutions.
8. Looking Ahead
As states continue to invest in efficiency, smart thermostat programs will play an increasingly important role in meeting decarbonization goals. We're proud to collaborate with utilities like PSE to deliver real value to customers—especially in underserved communities.
If you're a utility program manager exploring options for electric baseboard or heat pump thermostat initiatives, we’d be happy to connect and share how Mysa can support your goals.