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Not everyone in Appalachia has been encouraged to think of energy efficiency in a positive light.

Too often, we get told the pursuit of energy efficiency is a progressive, liberal, big-government ploy to get us to turn our backs on our way of life.

Of course, the reality is quite different.

“Energy efficiency doesn’t just help save the planet — it also helps save you money by lowering the amount of electricity, gas, oil or other types of energy you need to consume,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “While there are some steps you can take to become more energy-efficient on your own, living in the right area can give you a big boost. For example, certain states have much better public transportation systems that minimize your need to drive, at least in big cities. Some places also have better-constructed buildings that retain heat better during the winter or stay cooler during the summer.”

According to WalletHub’s “Most & Least Energy-Efficient States (2024),” the average U.S. family spends at least $2,000 per year on utilities — heating and cooling accounting for about half of that. The average consumer also spends another $2,450 per year on gasoline.

But there are big differences in how those in each state embrace energy efficiency. West Virginia ranks nearly at the bottom at 46th (Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from this report). The Mountain State is 45th for home energy efficiency and 42nd for auto energy efficiency. Just across the river, Ohio ranks 26th in the country, at 33rd for home energy efficiency and an impressive 17th for auto energy efficiency.

For added perspective, Pennsylvania ranked 22nd overall, Maryland ranked 12th, Virginia ranked 34th, and even Kentucky ranked six spots higher than West Virginia, at 40th.

Perhaps some of what accounts for those differences cannot be helped. In West Virginia, our commutes are often on longer, more demanding routes. Perhaps our homes are older.

But other things CAN be helped. In Ohio, it is likely public transportation is an option for more people. A healthier economy may mean there is more money to invest in energy efficient options in both the home and on the road. And, frankly, an Ohioan is less likely to have been told his or her identity is bound up in a legacy of coal mining, and inundated with the idea that to seek to save money on the electricity produced by that coal (or other fossil fuel) is somehow a negative.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy says adopting energy-efficient measures in a home could save a family 25% on utility costs. A more fuel-efficient vehicle could save the average driver about $900 per year. What a difference that could make in the not-so-long run.

Find tips and resources for how to get started here: https://dep.wv.gov/daq/EnergyEfficiency/Pages/default.aspx, and then keep digging. There’s no telling what you could save.