Report Ranks U.S. Cities on Energy Efficiency Policies

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released the 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard accompanying an interactive infographic showing the 34 most populous U.S. cities’ scores and best practices in energy efficiency policies. The evaluation was carried out on the basis of 5 categories: local government operations, community initiatives, buildings (including policies encouraging the use of LEED and Energy Star), energy and water utilities, and transportation.

The highest scoring city was Boston (MA) which was recognized for doing the most with regard to cutting energy use and costs. Other top scoring cities include Portland (OR), New York City (NY), San Francisco (CA), Seattle (WA) and Austin (TX).

Source: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

The key findings of the report indicate that while there are notable initiatives toward energy efficiency in many places across the U.S., even the highest scoring cities have room for improvement. Only 11 cities earned more than the half of the available 100 points, with top scorer Boston earning 76.75 points. However, the best practice actions taken by top ranking cities provide a roadmap for any local government aiming to implement energy efficiency measures.