CSE

Center for Sustainable Energy

Home Energy Improvement Potential Map Information

The scale on the Home Energy Improvement Potential Map ranges from light orange, indicating a lower propensity to complete home energy efficiency upgrades, to red for a much higher likelihood of making improvements.

This census tract map shows a composite index of four factors often correlated with a homeowner’s propensity to invest in energy efficiency measures: median household income, owner-occupancy rate, median build year for single-family homes and the annual number of cooling degree days.

Some examples of how these factors play into increased prospects of making energy upgrades include

  • Homeowners with more disposable income and who live in their home are more likely to invest in improvements than those who do not
  • Older homes are typically more in need of energy improvements
  • Hot climates trigger greater motivation for insulation, air sealing and efficient HVAC to mitigate high utility bills

Explore Other Data

Single-family homes

This map shows the number of single-family homes in each census tract.

Year built

This map shows the median build year of homes in each census tract. Homes built before energy efficiency standards took effect in 1978 typically have greater need for energy upgrades.

Owner occupancy

This map shows the average owner-occupancy rate of each census tract based on the number of homes classified as "homeowner" or "possible homeowner" occupied.

Square footage

This map shows the average square footage of single-family homes in each census tract.

Swimming pools

This map shows the percentage of single-family homes with swimming pools requiring pumps and often water heating, which can significantly increase the average home’s energy bill.

Age

This map shows the median age of residents in each census tract.

Income

This map shows the median household income in each census tract.

Education

This map shows the percentage of the population in each census tract older than 25 years with a bachelor's degree.

Children

This map shows the average number of children per household in each census tract.  

Political party affiliation

This map shows the relative share of voter registrants in the two major political parties in each census tract. Statewide, Democrats currently represent 41% and Republicans 32%. It does not include nonpartisan registrants that account for 22% of registrations. 

Source: California State Voter registrar.

Annual cooling degree days

This map shows the number of days  per year that the average temperature is above 65°F for each ZIP code. Weather data was summarized during April 2015 through March 2016. Areas with higher annual cooling degree days typically have greater need for air conditioning.

Annual heating degree days

This map shows the number of days per year that the average temperature is below 65°F for each ZIP code. Weather data was summarized during April 2015 through March 2016. Areas with higher annual heating degree days typically have greater need for indoor heating.

Percentage rebated electric vehicles of new car sales

This map shows the percentage of individual electric vehicle owners per 1,000 new car sales. It is based on the number of Clean Vehicle Rebate Project awards since April 2016 relative to the number of new car sales in each census tract. The awards account for about 75% of the clean vehicle market in California.

Percentage of single-family homes with solar

This map shows the percentage of single-family homes with solar systems in each ZIP code. It includes all interconnected systems located in investor-owned utility service territories.

Home Upgrade and Advanced Home Upgrade projects

This map shows the percentage of single-family homes that conducted whole-house energy efficiency improvements under the Energy Upgrade California® Home Upgrade and Advanced Home Upgrade incentive program during 2013-2015.

Residential HVAC

This map shows the percentage of single-family homes that participated in an investor-owned utility’s residential HVAC quality installation/quality maintenance program during 2013-2015.

Electrical consumption (kWh)

This map shows average monthly household electricity usage in the second quarter of 2015 measured in kilowatt-hours for each ZIP code.

Source: PG&E, SCE, SDG&E

Gas consumption (therms)

This map shows average monthly household natural gas usage in the second quarter of 2015 measured in therms for each ZIP code.

Source: PG&E, SCE, SDG&E