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Via Worldchanging, here is some really interesting data compiled by the Dept. of Energy on gasoline use per capita on a state-by-state basis. Trust me, the numbers are not what you’d expect. Jamais issues a call for additional analysis, which I think would be very interesting.

The state-by-state listing just begs for further analysis: the corresponding per capita rates of hybrid ownership and light truck/SUV ownership; average population density; portion of the populace living in "high density" environments; gasoline prices; telecommuting rates; availability of public transit; even "red" vs. "blue." Anyone up for a bit of number crunching?

I would totally take him up on this if I had time in my life right now to look up some of these numbers. Perhaps late next week, if someone hasn’t taken the initiative already.

Stats are fun

By chris at August 11, 2005 - 8:45am |

Okay, I lied. I just put together an initial table with some of the easy-to-find data and uploaded it here. Feel free to add data if you have it on hand or can easily track it down, and do any analysis that seems fun. I'm happy to run some numbers, but I'm not going to have easy access to a stats package for a number of days yet.

Final request: if you add data email me at chris AT organicmatter DOT net and attach the updated spreadsheet so I can upload the newer version.

more data

By chris at August 12, 2005 - 4:26pm |

Reader Drew Baglino has taken the time to add in data for the percentage of a state's population that lives in urban areas. In addition, I made some quick tables comparing gasoline use per capita to the three figures in the spreadsheet (average gas price, average population density, and percent population in urban areas) and added trendlines with R2 values. None of these is particularly compelling, but have a look for yourself: the new spreadsheet is here.

Excellent work, guys.

By Hungry Hyaena at August 12, 2005 - 6:59pm |

If only I could get the damned "sort" feature to work! ;)

sort in Excel

By chris at August 12, 2005 - 7:12pm |

Highlight just the rows that contain states (should be 3-53) in the columns that contain data (so that's a block 7 or 8 columns wide and 51 rows long), then go into the "data" menu, then pick sort. This should let you choose which column to sort by.