COLLEGE STATION, TX-- Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont lead the country in office building energy efficiency, according to a new study by energy economist, author and university professor Jerry Jackson.
Jackson, a professor at Texas A&M University, researched use of electricity in public and private office buildings in the 48 contiguous states. In his study, Jackson determined the number of buildings in each state that exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star standard and the cost savings associated with efficient energy use, then ranked the states accordingly.
"This ranking is important because it provides the first assessment of efficiency achievements in individual states and, more importantly, uncovers how much efficiency potential still exists," said Jackson, whose study focuses on office buildings because they account for about 23 percent of commercial buildings and for about 26 percent — the largest sector — of commercial electricity use.
The study, "State-Level Office Building Energy Efficiency Rankings," also "highlights the fact that there may be more and better ways to be energy efficient and to encourage that efficiency," Jackson said. "People react differently to different sorts of incentives, said Jackson, pointing out a correlation between higher energy costs, a negative incentive, and greater savings in office building energy use.
"State and federal policymakers should consider the carrot and the stick when devising incentives, though some of them may need to be wrapped in something that is more politically feasible, Jackson told GreenerBuildings. "At some point in the future, for example, building owners or building real estate trusts may be given a choice that they have to pay a little more for energy or they meet a certain standard (for efficient energy use)."
In descending order, Jackson's study identifies the 10 states with the most energy efficient office buildings as Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Nevada, New York, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey.
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