Have you ever wondered how energy efficient your hometown is? Well, the team at ARS/Rescue Rooter has! With temperatures on the rise, and this summer predicted to be one of the hottest on record, our team decided to do a little research into cities and their energy efficiency. And the results may surprise you!
The pros at ARS/Rescue Rooter compiled a list of the 25 most energy-efficient cities and regions in America based on the installation of energy-efficient residential cooling and heating systems through the ARS/Rescue Rooter network of service areas in America.
As always, the ARS/Rescue Rooter team works hard every day to help our customers stay on budget and save energy with every installation.
Said Scott Boose, CEO ARS/Rescue Rooter, “Adopting energy-efficient cooling and heating equipment helps our customers save on energy costs that come with owning a home. By embracing energy-efficient cooling and heating equipment, we can significantly reduce our energy consumption, and help our customers save money.”
The top five cities and regions in America that have adopted energy-efficient equipment are Riverside, California, and the surrounding Inland Empire; San Antonio, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Seattle, Washington; and Alexandria, Virginia.
The top 25 energy efficient cities and regions in America are:
- Riverside, Calif.
- San Antonio, Texas
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Seattle, Wash.
- Alexandria, Va.
- Houston, Texas
- Orange County, Calif.
- Kansas City, Mo.
- Tampa, Fla.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Chicago, Ill.
- Laurel, Md.
- Austin, Texas
- Memphis, Tenn.
- Monmouth County, N.J.
- Boston, Mass.
- Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
- Atlanta, Ga.
- San Francisco, Calif.
- Orlando, Fla.
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Richmond, Va.
- Las Vegas, Nev.
- Detroit, Mich.
- Vero Beach, Fla.
How Is Energy Efficiency Measured?
This is a great question, and one we hear quite often! Energy efficiency is measured in two different ways. Typically, the efficiency of an air conditioning unit is measured using a metric called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER, while the efficiency of a furnace is usually measured using a metric called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or AFUE. In both cases, a higher rating indicates a more efficient unit.
ARS/Rescue Rooter ranked the cities and regions by those with the highest mix of high efficiency units (higher end SEER/AFUE values) relative to the total units installed in that market. The analysis looked at the installation of furnaces with an AFUE rating of 80 or greater and air conditioning units with a SEER rating of 14 or greater in markets where more than 200 air conditioning and heating units were sold during 2022.
Save Money with Energy Efficient Improvements, Too!
Recently, the government has made it more enticing for homeowners to upgrade their HVAC systems and make home improvements. The Inflation Reduction Act that was signed in August 2022 provides tax incentives for eligible homeowners to make energy efficient improvements. In fact, homeowners can receive an annual tax credit of up to $3,200 per year for heat pumps, other qualifying HVAC systems and water heaters, and certain other efficiency improvement projects, such as improving insulation.
ARS/Rescue Rooter can help you navigate the incentives created by the new law.
“One of the main purposes of the Inflation Reduction Act is to incentivize making energy efficient improvements to the home,” Boose said. “The tax incentives are available immediately, and these benefits combined with seasonal discounts make this the ideal time to contact your local ARS/Rescue Rooter professional for a comfort assessment.”
