Rhode Island Named 2nd Most Energy Efficient State: WalletHub

October is national energy awareness month, and the U.S. Department of Energy estimated that the average American family could save as much as 25 percent on their utilities by taking energy saving measures. Rhode Island topped the charts in a newly released ranking of energy efficiency, ranking second on the list of most energy efficient states.

To determine the ranking, WalletHub weighed home and vehicle efficiency, with 50 points possible in each category. The total score was then calculated for each state, out of 100 total points.

Rhode Island earned a total score of 85.82, ranked second for auto efficiency and fifth for home efficiency. Neighboring Massachusetts also made the top five, ranked fourth overall. Here's a look at the top five.

1. New York
2. Rhode Island
3. Utah
4. Massachusetts
5. Vermont

At the other end of the spectrum, South Carolina was ranked the least-energy efficient state with just 18.96 points. Neither Hawaii nor Alaska were included in the ranking due to a lack of data.

John D. Clark, an assistant professor in sustainable buildings at Ohio State University, said the best return on investment comes from making small changes like shutting off electronics and lights when not in use.

"Beyond that, switching out old incandescent light bulbs for much more efficient and longer lasting LEDs is a no-brainer," Clark added. "Smart thermostats are also a good investment and can often be offset entirely with a rebate from your energy provider."

Read the full study and see the full ranking on WalletHub.