NEW JERSEY — New Jersey ranks 18th in the nation for energy efficiency in 2026, performing better in automobile energy efficiency than household energy efficiency, according to a new study released by personal finance website WalletHub.
The report, titled “2026’s Most & Least Energy-Efficient States,” compared the energy efficiency of homes and automobiles across 48 states to determine where Americans are using energy most efficiently.
New Jersey received an overall score of 62.32 out of 100, ranking 18th nationally. The Garden State ranked 10th for automobile energy efficiency but placed 26th for home energy efficiency.
The findings were released during October, which is recognized as National Energy Awareness Month.
According to WalletHub, the average American family spends at least $2,000 annually on utilities, making energy efficiency an important factor in household expenses.
California ranked as the most energy-efficient state in the country, earning an overall score of 84.19. Vermont followed in second place with a score of 83.67, while neighboring New York ranked third with a score of 80.71.
Washington and Massachusetts rounded out the top five.
Other states in the top 10 included Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota and Nevada.
Among New Jersey’s neighboring states, Pennsylvania ranked 27th overall with a score of 57.56. Pennsylvania placed 29th for home energy efficiency and 23rd for automobile energy efficiency.
New York performed particularly well in automobile energy efficiency, ranking third nationally, while placing 12th for home energy efficiency.
At the opposite end of the rankings, South Carolina was named the least energy-efficient state, ranking 48th with an overall score of 21.85.
Alabama ranked 47th, followed by West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi.
WalletHub evaluated states using two primary categories: home energy efficiency and automobile energy efficiency. The rankings reflect how efficiently energy is used rather than simply measuring total energy consumption.
The study excluded Alaska and Hawaii because of data limitations.
According to WalletHub, the findings highlight differences in energy efficiency across the country and the potential for households to reduce energy expenses through more efficient energy use.
The full report, including individual state rankings and scores, is available at WalletHub’s 2026 Most & Least Energy-Efficient States.
