Statistics

Per Capita County Energy Consumption

While the energy demands of a power plant are an important consideration for maximum energy efficiency, citizen energy demands are equally important. The built environment, citizen awareness of climate change and personal responsibility are key to achieving low per capita energy consumption and carbon emissions in California counties and cities. In many cities, citizens are emitting more than 30,000 times their body weight in carbon emissions each year. Click here to read about ways to educate employees and citizens about global warming and energy-efficiency and conservation.

Per Capita Electricity Consumption for the Top Ten Most
Electricity-Consuming Counties in California (kWh) for 2005*

Per Capita Electricity Consumption (kWh) 2005*
Kern 19,702
Santa Clara 8,977
Contra Costa 7,981
Sacramento 7,692
Alameda 7,589
Alameda 7,589
San Bernardino 7,381
Los Angeles 6,954
Orange 6,719
Riverside 6,217
San Diego 6,205

*While the above figures include non-residential electricity use such as electricity use from pumping oil (Kern County), this electricity use is relevant to local governments because it reflects the local economy's reliance on fossil fuels for jobs and tax revenue. Local governments have the power to encourage economic development in less carbon-intensive activities, spawning innovation and creating jobs that have longer-term security than oil pumping - while fighting global warming!

Sources:
California Energy Commission: Electricity by County
Electricity by County Calculations


Citizens emit 30,000 times their body weight in GHG