Earth Day by the numbers

April 22, 2017, marks the 47th 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 recognition of Earth Day ― and Earth Week (April 18-22), the U.S. Census Bureau has put together a collection of statistics pertaining to energy and the environment.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

$9.7 billion

The total of 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. Source: 2012 Economic Census

1,183

The number of hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns

12,456

The number of employees in hydroelectric, wind, geothermal, biomass, solar and other electric power generation business establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns

HEATING AND COOLING THE HOME

2.4 million

The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by wood in 2015, which is 2.0 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04

106,737

The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country using solar energy in 2015 as their primary source of heat, which is 0.1 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04

57 million

The estimated number of occupied housing units across the country primarily heated by utility gas in 2015, which is 48.2 percent of all homes.
Source: 2015 American Community Survey, Table DP04

93 percent

The estimated percentage of newly-built single-family homes across the country with air conditioning in 2015.
Source: Presence of Air-Conditioning in New Single-Family Houses Completed

BUILDING A HOUSE

14,000

The number of multifamily buildings built across the United States in 2015. Of these, 8,000 used electricity as the primary heating fuel.
Source: Number of Multifamily Buildings Completed by Type of Heating Fuel

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

113,090

The number of employees working in recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2014.
Source: 2014 County Business Patterns

$95.8 billion

The total sales for recyclable material merchant wholesale establishments in 2012, up 19.6 percent from $80.1 billion in 2007. Total sales in 2012 for recyclable paper and paperboard products were $9.8 billion; recyclable plastics products were $2.5 billion; and recyclable glass products were $560.9 million.

Source: 2012 Economic Census and 2007 Economic Census

$8.4 billion

The product shipments value for recycled paperboard in 2015.
Source: 2015 Annual Survey of Manufactures

COLLECTING REVENUE

$2.1 billion

The estimated revenue for hazardous waste management collection services in 2015 for U.S. waste collection employer firms.
Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5621

$5.2 billion

The estimated revenue for hazardous waste treatment and disposal services in 2015 for U.S. waste treatment and disposal employer firms.
Source: 2015 Service Annual Survey, Table 4, NAICS 5622