April 22, 2016, marked the 46th anniversary of Earth Day ― a day intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment. Organizers started Earth Day in response to a massive oil spill in waters near Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1969. In honor of Earth Day ― and Earth Week (April 18-22) ― this edition of Profile America Facts for Features includes examples of Census Bureau statistics pertaining to energy and the environment.
Renewable Energy
$9.7 billion
Revenues in 2012 for electric power generation industries that use renewable energy resources, such as hydro, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation. This figure is up 46.5 percent from $6.6 billion in 2007.
716
The number of wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2012, more than double the number of of establishments (312) in 2007.
5,347
The number of employees in wind electric power generation establishments, the most among the industries using renewable energy in 2012.
$5.1 billion
Revenues for the wind electric power generation industry in 2012, the highest among the industries using renewable energy resources. Hydroelectric power generation followed with revenues of $2.5 billion. Geothermal electric power generation had revenues of just under $1 billion ($981.2 million), followed by biomass electric power generation, with $721.5 million in revenues, solar electric power generation, with $427.6 million, and other electric power generation, with $43.4 million.
Collecting Revenue
$1.9 billion Estimated revenue for hazardous waste management collection services in 2014 for U.S. waste collection employer firms. This is up 6.7 percent from 2013.
$5.5 billion
Estimated revenue for hazardous waste treatment and disposal services in 2014 for U.S. waste treatment and disposal employer firms.
$14.3 billion
Estimated revenue for local, fixed-route passenger transportation, by road and transit rail in 2014 for U.S. Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employer firms. This is up 7.5 percent from 2013.
Heating and Cooling the Home
2.5 million
Estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by wood in 2014, which is 2.1 percent of all homes.
59,558
Estimated number of occupied housing units across the country using solar energy in 2014 as their primary source of heat, which is less than 1 percent of all homes.
56.8 million
Estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by utility gas in 2014, which is 48.8 percent of all homes.
91%
Estimated percent of newly-built single-family homes across the country with air conditioning in 2014.
Commuting to Work
26 minutes
Estimated average time workers age 16 and older across the country spent getting to work in 2014, up from 25.8 minutes in 2013 and 25.7 minutes in 2012.
32.3 and 32.6 minutes
Estimated average time workers age 16 and older in Maryland and New York spent getting to work in 2014, the longest commute time in the nation.
(U.S. Census Field Division)
Photo: EPA/Michael Reynolds
