Consumption & Efficiency
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Primary energy includes petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear fuel, and renewable energy ›
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First Estimates from 2010 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) Released ›
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The impact of increasing home size on energy demand
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U.S. household winter natural gas heating expenditures expected to be lowest since 2002-03 ›
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Flattening of per-capita residential energy consumption reflects multiple factors ›
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Most new homes are built with central air conditioning ›
Energy In Brief
What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
The major energy sources in the United States are petroleum (oil), natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy. The major users are residential and commercial buildings, industry, transportation, and electric power generators. The pattern of fuel use varies widely by sector. For example, oil provides 93% of the energy used for transportation, but only about 1% of the energy used to generate electric power.
How can we compare or add up our energy consumption?
To compare or aggregate energy consumption across different energy sources like oil, natural gas, and electricity, we must use a common unit of measure. This is similar to calculating your food energy intake by adding up the calories in whatever you eat.
Energy Explained
How We Use Energy
The United States is a highly developed and industrialized society. We use a lot of energy in our homes, in businesses, in industry, and for personal travel and transporting goods.
Features
The impact of increasing home size on energy demand
Released April 19, 2012According to Housing Unit Size data from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) 2009, homes built since 1990 are on average 27% larger than homes built in earlier decades. This is a significant trend because most energy end-uses are correlated with the size of the home.
Assessment of EIA's Building Consumption Data
Released February 10, 2012The National Academy of Sciences' Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) recently released an assessment of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) and Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), which was initiated at the request of EIA.
Energy Intensity Trends
Annual Energy Outlook 2012 (Early Release Overview)
Released January 23, 2012 | Next Release April 2012
This report includes projections for U.S. energy intensity through 2035, and related analysis of energy conservation and energy efficiency.
Appliance and consumer electronic use nearly doubles in U.S. homes
Released March 28, 2011
Over the past thirty years, the share of electricity used by appliances and electronics in U.S. homes has nearly doubled from 17% to 31%, growing from 1.77 quadrillion Btu (quads) to 3.25 quads. This rise has occurred while household consumption actually decreased from 10.58 quads to 10.55 quads and stringent Federal energy use standards were enacted on every major appliance.
Lighting in Commercial Buildings
Released April 2009
Lighting is a major consumer of electricity in commercial buildings and a target for energy savings through use of energy-efficient light sources along with other advanced lighting technologies.
Energy Use in Manufacturing
Released August 2006
Energy Use in Manufacturing provides information related to energy consumption changes within the U.S. manufacturing sector between 1998 and 2002. This report addresses both manufacturing energy consumption and characteristics of the manufacturing economy related to energy consumption. In addition, special sections on fuel switching capacity and energy-management activities between 1998 and 2002 are also featured in this report.
End-use consumption
data & surveys
Residential Energy Consumption (RECS)
Commercial Building Energy Consumption (CBECS)
Sector totals:
Consumption and efficiency
analysis & projections
Annual Energy Outlook 2012 Early Release Overview:
