New Jersey ranks 18th among the most energy-efficient states in the United States in 2026, according to a new WalletHub analysis.
The Garden State received an overall score of 64.06 in the ranking, which compares states using measures related to household energy use and transportation efficiency.
Stronger in Transportation Than Home Energy Use
New Jersey ranked 11th in transportation efficiency, performing considerably better in that category than in household energy efficiency.
For home energy efficiency, New Jersey ranked 28th.
WalletHub’s methodology looks at factors such as residential energy consumption and the efficiency of transportation systems to estimate how effectively each state uses energy.
The results show that New Jersey performs relatively well overall, but there is still room for improvement, particularly in household energy use.
Different Studies Measure Different Things
New Jersey’s position can vary significantly depending on the study.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE, has ranked New Jersey much higher in its State Energy Efficiency Scorecard because that report focuses heavily on state policies, programs and regulatory efforts rather than only energy consumption patterns.
That distinction is important because a state can have strong efficiency policies while still showing weaker results in certain areas of actual household energy use.
Sources: WalletHub; American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
By NJ RADAR Team