Natural gas is a fossil fuel and most natural gas used for household purposes is methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a significant climate pollutant. Gas extraction for energy production is the leading source of methane emissions, beyond agricultural emissions and other sources.

All stages of natural gas usage, including production, transportation, and consumption, can have adverse impacts on the environment. Natural gas extraction techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing (a.k.a., "fracking"), can pollute the surrounding environment. Gas leaks during storage and transportation, and from old gas wells, contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere. Household gas appliances have been linked to poor air quality in the home and a variety of respiratory ailments, including asthma.

The percentage of households using gas for heating tracks the extent to which households are still using this energy source versus cleaner options, such as electric heating.

In 2017-2022, our region maintained significantly higher natural gas usage for heating, at 74% of households, higher than the state rate (64%) or national rate (52%). Rates of gas usage for heating are highest in Monroe County, with 79% of households using gas heating, and lowest in Yates County, at 52%. Among cities, towns and villages, the Town (88%) and Village (90%) of Pittsford have the highest percentage of households using gas for heating, while the Town of Perinton (62%) and the Village of Churchville (62%) have the lowest.

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.