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The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released its third annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks U.S. states according to adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies.

The scorecard examines state’s performance in six energy efficiency policy areas: (1) utility-sector and public benefits programs and policies, (2) transportation policies, (3) building energy codes, (4) combined heat and power, (5) state government initiatives, and (6) appliance efficiency standards. It also documents the best practices and leadership roles that states are playing in national efforts to reduce energy use.

This year, the scorecard found that the top 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency were California (1), Massachusetts (2), Connecticut (3), Oregon (4), New York (5), Vermont (6), Washington State (7), Minnesota (8), Rhode Island (9), and Maine (10). In addition, the average state energy efficiency score improved from 15 to 17 points (out of 50) when compared with last year’s average score. The “most improved” states, which climbed at least eight spots from last year’s rankings, include Maine, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

For states further down the list, the successful practices, examples, and information highlighted in this scorecard can serve as a roadmap for getting started with energy efficiency.

The database is searchable by state or by policy, and documents state activities in the energy efficiency policy areas covered in the scorecard. For detailed information about energy efficiency initiatives at the state level, visit ACEEE’s State Energy Efficiency Policy Database on the Web at http://www.aceee.org/energy/state/index.htm.

The 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard is available for free download at http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e097.htm; hard copies may be ordered through a link on the download page.