Energy is expensive, there is no doubt about that. Just think about how much it costs to run your air conditioner during the dogs-day of a Minnesota summer, or just how much it can cost to heat your home in the cold winters.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. family spends at least $2,000 per year on utilities and another $1,568 on motor fuel and oil. That is a hefty bill and taking a look at how you can trim those costs down is always a good idea.

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Our friends at Wallet Hub took a look at which states were the most energy-efficient and least using several different factors.

In order to gauge the impact of doing more with less energy, WalletHub measured the efficiency of auto- and home-energy consumption in 48 U.S. states. Due to data limitations, Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from our analysis.

Minnesota Is The 4th Most Energy Efficient State In The Nation

According to the study from Wallet Hub, Minnesota was the 4th most energy-efficient state, and a big reason why was because Minnesota was 2nd in home energy efficiency.

• 2nd – Home Energy Efficiency
• 22nd – Vehicle-Fuel Efficiency
• 26th – Transportation Efficiency

Utah, New York, and Massachusetts were ranked 1, 2, and 3, while South Carolina, West Virginia, and Alabama rounded out the bottom of the list.

Source: WalletHub

Now according to Wallet Hub, the Department of Energy says that adopting energy-efficient measures and habits could trim costs by as much as 25%.

Minnesota is already in the Top 5, but by taking a look at how consumers can conserve even more, Minnesota might find itself leaping one of those states in the Top 3.

How did Minnesota's neighbors fair in this study?  Wisconsin was #8, South Dakota was #22, Iowa was #24, and North Dakota was #34. You can read the full study right here.

Enjoy This Unique Minnesota Cabin That Sits Just Inches Off The Lake

This incredible Minnesota Cabin is available on Airbnb, and is truly unique! Sitting just inches off of the lake, you'll get incredible views of northern Minnesota's natural beauty!

'Getaway Shores' is a modern Scandinavian cabin on the shore of Lake Mitawan in Superior National Forest near Isabella, Minnesota. Check out some of the beautiful views, traditional Finnish sauna, and modern cabin below!

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