Decreasing
What does this measure?
The percentage of households that report using gas (natural, propane, etc.) as fuel for heating (water and house).
Why is this important?
Natural gas is a fossil fuel and most natural gas used for household purposes is methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a significant climate pollutant. Gas extraction for energy production is the leading source of methane emissions, beyond agricultural emissions and other sources.
All stages of natural gas usage, including production, transportation, and consumption, can have adverse impacts on the environment. Natural gas extraction techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing (a.k.a., "fracking"), can pollute the surrounding environment. Gas leaks during storage and transportation, and from old gas wells, contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere. Household gas appliances have been linked to poor air quality in the home and a variety of respiratory ailments, including asthma.
The percentage of households using gas for heating tracks the extent to which households are still using this energy source versus cleaner options, such as electric heating.
How is our region performing?
In 2017-2022, our region maintained significantly higher natural gas usage for heating, at 74% of households, higher than the state rate (64%) or national rate (52%). Rates of gas usage for heating are highest in Monroe County, with 79% of households using gas heating, and lowest in Yates County, at 52%. Among cities, towns and villages, the Town (88%) and Village (90%) of Pittsford have the highest percentage of households using gas for heating, while the Town of Perinton (62%) and the Village of Churchville (62%) have the lowest.
Notes about the data
The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.
2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYS | 57% | 61% | 64% | ||||||||||||||||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 57% | 59% | 61% | ||||||||||||||||
Region | 75% | 75% | 74% | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe | 83% | 81% | 79% | ||||||||||||||||
Surrounding Counties | 64% | 65% | 66% | ||||||||||||||||
Rochester MSA | 77% | 76% | 76% | ||||||||||||||||
Genesee | 69% | 70% | 72% | ||||||||||||||||
Livingston | 62% | 63% | 65% | ||||||||||||||||
Ontario | 70% | 69% | 72% | ||||||||||||||||
Orleans | 58% | 62% | 64% | ||||||||||||||||
Seneca | 64% | 61% | 61% | ||||||||||||||||
Wayne | 64% | 65% | 66% | ||||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 57% | 62% | 59% | ||||||||||||||||
Yates | 53% | 51% | 52% | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe County Suburbs | 83% | 81% | 80% | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe County Local Areas | |||||||||||||||||||
Regional Cities |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
2007-11 | 2012-16 | 2017-21 | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NYS | 4,133,315 | 4,423,581 | 4,824,036 | ||||||||||||||||
NYS (excluding NYC) | 2,386,627 | 2,454,882 | 2,621,703 | ||||||||||||||||
Region | 358,906 | 363,430 | 371,519 | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe | 241,860 | 244,110 | 247,351 | ||||||||||||||||
Surrounding Counties | 117,046 | 119,320 | 124,168 | ||||||||||||||||
Rochester MSA | 319,937 | 328,630 | 336,162 | ||||||||||||||||
Genesee | 16,536 | 16,738 | 17,587 | ||||||||||||||||
Livingston | 14,897 | 15,327 | 15,537 | ||||||||||||||||
Ontario | 30,581 | 30,612 | 33,376 | ||||||||||||||||
Orleans | 9,244 | 10,011 | 10,309 | ||||||||||||||||
Seneca | 8,447 | 8,287 | 8,341 | ||||||||||||||||
Wayne | 23,355 | 23,672 | 25,097 | ||||||||||||||||
Wyoming | 8,934 | 9,775 | 9,429 | ||||||||||||||||
Yates | 5,052 | 4,898 | 4,492 | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe County Suburbs | 171,233 | 173,527 | 175,756 | ||||||||||||||||
Monroe County Local Areas | |||||||||||||||||||
Regional Cities |
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic | REGIONAL VALUE | YEAR | NYS COMPARISON | TREND | REGION |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tourism Spending | $1,399 | 2021 | 1 |
0
Maintaining
|
Recreation Spending | $83 | 2021 | 1 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Voter Registration Rate | 84% | 2021 | 2 |
1
Increasing
|
Voter Participation Rate | 64% | 2020 | 3 |
1
Increasing
|
Registered Library Borrowers | 55% | 2020 | 3 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Library Visits | 2.5 | 2020 | 3 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Charitable Contributions as a Percentage of Income | 0.8% | 2020 | 2 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Households Without Vehicles | 10% | 2017-21 | 3 |
0
Maintaining
|
Means of Transportation to Work | 2017-21 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Workers’ Commute Time, by Means of Transportation to Work | 2017-21 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Crashes Involving Pedestrians | 2.6 | 2022 | 3 |
0
Maintaining
|
Crashes Involving Cyclists | 1.4 | 2022 | 3 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Injuries and Fatalities | 60 | 2022 | 3 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) | 24 | 2022 | 2 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Miles of Dedicated Bike Infrastructure | 2023 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
RTS Ridership | 8 | 2022 | 0 |
-1
Decreasing
|
RTS On-time Performance | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Greenhouse Gas Emissions | 23.7 | 2018 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* |
Energy Burden of Households | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Solar Energy Capacity | 122.8 | 2022 | 3 |
1
Increasing
|
Gas Usage for Household Heating | 74% | 2017-21 | 1 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Clean Energy Workforce | 4.7% | 2021 | 3 |
1
Increasing
|
Clean Energy Communities | 2023 | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | |
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Ports | 165 | 2023 | 0 |
-1
Decreasing
|
Asthma Hospitalizations | 0 | 10 Not Applicable* | ||
Food Deserts | 35% | 2019 | 1 | 10 Not Applicable* |
Food Deserts in Low-Income Areas | 20% | 2019 | 1 | 10 Not Applicable* |