How much energy is consumed in U.S. buildings?
Energy consumption by the U.S. residential sector and the commercial sector represents the majority of energy consumption in or on all U.S. buildings.
In 2023, the combined end-use energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors accounted for about 27.6%—or about 20.6 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu)—of total U.S. end-use energy consumption.1
End-use energy consumption includes primary energy consumption and retail electricity sales to the sectors, but excludes electrical system energy losses.
Total energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors includes end-use consumption and electrical system energy losses associated with retail electricity sales to the sectors. When electrical system energy losses are included, the residential and commercial sectors accounted for about 19.7% and 17.2% respectively—36.9% combined—of total U.S. energy consumption in 2023.1
We collect detailed end-use energy consumption data for selected years in residential buildings, commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities with energy consumption surveys (see links below). In the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey 2018, energy use in U.S. manufacturing facilities for facility air conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting, and facility support, was about 0.5 quadrillion Btu, equal to about 2% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption in 2018.
1 Source: Monthly Energy Review, Energy consumption by sector, Tables 2.1a, and 2.1b, April 2024.
Learn more:
U.S. primary energy consumption and energy end use in U.S. energy consumption by source and sector (diagram)
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
Energy Explained: Energy use in homes
Energy Explained: Energy use in commercial buildings
Last updated: April 30, 2024.
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