Some bad news for residents of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia has come to light recently: A WalletHub study found that all three states fell in the bottom half of US states in energy efficiency and energy expensiveness. Maryland performed slightly better than the other two, at #25 in the country for energy efficiency, but still fell in the top of the ranking for energy expensiveness, while West Virginia and Virginia came in at #42 and #43 respectively for energy efficiency and performed no better in the energy expensiveness category.

The data was organized into three categories: average home energy use, average car energy use, and the expense of a typical energy plan in each state. Residential energy consumption was calculated by dividing the total energy use by the number of annual degree days, which are a measure of how much a room must be heated or cooled to reach an average temperature of 65 degrees each day. Car-related energy consumption was calculated by dividing miles driven by gallons of gas consumed. 

Energy efficiency is important for consumers not only because of the environmental impact of poor energy conservation, but also because of the financial losses associated with powering inefficient homes and vehicles. According to WalletHub, the average yearly household expenditure on energy bills is over $2,200, not to mention the heavy costs of keeping the tank of a low-MPG car full. Essentially, low energy efficiency is a lose-lose scenario for both humans and the environment. 

The bright side of this news is that in Virginia and West Virginia, the only way to go from here is up. For help with assessing your home's energy efficiency or to schedule an energy audit, which is an easy way to save money this winter, contact Alban Inspections today.