Household driving
Emissions from gasoline fuel combustion due to passenger car travel by household. The combustion of motor vehicle gasoline emits carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Annual household gasoline purchase expenditures by ZIP code were derived from the 2001-2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Equation: ((total annual household expenditures, motor vehicle fuel by ZIP) / (average price per gallon)) * average kg of CO2, CH4 or N2O emitted per gallon motor vehicle fuel / 1,000
Coefficients: $2.8077 = average price of gasoline; 8.81 kg/mi = CO2 emission factor; 0.0273 g/mi = N2O emission factor; 0.0178 g/mi = CH4 emission factor
Data sources: California Energy Commission (2006); U.S. EPA, Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005 (2007)
Household commercial air travel
Emissions from jet fuel combustion due to commercial airline travel by household. The combustion of jet fuel emits carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Annual household air travel expenditures by ZIP code were derived from the 2001-2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Equation: ((total annual household expenditures, airline travel*percentage of retail cost, fuel expenditures) / (average price per gallon of aviation fuel)) * average kg of CO2, N2O, or CH4 emitted per gallon jet fuel
Coefficients: $2.70 = average price of jet fuel; 17.0% percentage of retail cost for air travel, fuel expenditures; 9.57 kg/mi = CO2 emission factor; 0.31 g/mi = N2O emission factor; 0.27 g/mi = CH4 emission factor
Data sources: Bureau or Transportation Statistics, 2006; U.S. EPA, Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005 (2007)
Household electricity usage
Emissions from electricity usage by household. The generation of electricity through the combustion of fossil fuels typically yields carbon dioxide (CO2) and to a lesser extent, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Annual household electricity expenditures by ZIP code were derived from the 2001-2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Equation: ((total annual household expenditures, electricity by ZIP/ average price per megawatt hour) * average lbs of CO2, NO2 and CH4 emitted per kilowatt hour)
Coefficients: $1.665 = average price of electricity per MWh; 878.71 kg/MWh = CO2 emission factor; 0.008 lbs/MWh = N2O emission factor; 0.036 lbs/MWh = CH4 emission factor
Data sources: Energy Information Administration (2007); US EPA eGRID2006 Version 2.1 (2004 data); U.S. EPA, Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005 (2007)
Household natural gas usage
Direct emissions due to household natural gas usage. The generation of electricity through the combustion of natural gas yields carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
Equation: (total annual household expenditures, natural gas / average price per Million Btu ) * average lbs of CO2 emitted per Million Btu / pounds per metric ton conversion factor
Coefficients: $13.76 = average price of natural gas per MBtu; CO2 emissions factor 120.593 lbs/MBtu
Data sources: Annual household natural gas expenditures by ZIP code were derived from the 2001-2002 Consumer Expenditure Survey data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. GHG emissions factors are based on data from the Energy Information Administration (2007)
Manufacturing processes
Emissions due to activities in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing processes--including cement and lime production and semiconductor production--account for approximately 18 percent of California's anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
California Energy Commission's statewide estimates for manufacturing-related greenhouse gas emissions were revised for 2006 and apportioned to ZIP codes based on the number of manufacturing facilities and acres of industrial land use within each ZIP.
Data sources: California Energy Commission, 2004; ZIP Code Business Patterns, US Census Bureau 2005; California Resources Agency Legacy Project current land use map, 2002
Agricultural activities
Emissions due to activities in the agricultural sector. Agricultural processes--including cattle and dairy farming, soil fertilization and manure management--account for approximately 13 percent of California's anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
California Energy Commission's statewide estimates for agricultural-related greenhouse gas emissions were revised for 2006 and apportioned to ZIP codes based on the number of agricultural establishments and acres of agricultural land use within each ZIP.
Data sources: California Energy Commission, 2004; ZIP Code Business Patterns, US Census Bureau 2005; California Resources Agency Legacy Project current land use map, 2002
Commercial goods movement
Emissions produced via the movement of commerce or goods on surface transportation corridors (excluding rail). Goods movement accounts for approximately 14 percent of California's greenhouse gas emissions.
For this indicator we estimated emissions based on fuel economy (by truck type) and driving distance or vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on California State Highways. Data sources: California Department of Transportation average annual truck counts segmented to roads using a Caltrans state highway road network and post miles. Heavy Duty (i.e., trucks with more than 2 axles): VMT / 5.8 (10.15kg/gallon) /1000 = mtCO2 VMT / 5.8 (0.0048g/gallon)/1,000,000 = mtN2O VMT / 5.8 (0.0051g/gallon)/1,000,000 = mtCH4 Light to-moderate duty trucks (i.e., trucks with more than 2 axles): VMT / 8.0 (10.15kg/gallon) /1000 = mtCO2 VMT / 8.0 (0.0014g/gallon)/1,000,000 = mtN2O VMT / 8.0 (0.0009g/gallon)/1,000,000 = mtCH4
Total population
Total households
Total square miles
Population density (population per square mile)
Average number of vehicles per household
Median travel time to work (minutes)
Percentage of commuters who drive alone to work
Percentage of housing units that are owner occupied
Median home value (USD)
Median household income (USD)
Percentage of population earning below poverty level
Percentage of workers who work in blue collar industries
Percentage of population with less than 9th grade education
While this application is undergoing substantial refinement, please feel free to send me (the developer)
questions, comments, recommendations concerning functionality, design, etc. Given that the application is still at an early phase of development, any feedback at this point will be helpful.
Email me at scott@justenvirons.org