Frequently Asked Questions
How much electricity is used for lighting in the United States?
EIA estimates that in 2011, about 461 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity were used for lighting by the residential and commercial sectors. This was equal to about 17% of the total electricity consumed by both of these sectors and about 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption.
Residential lighting consumption was about 186 billion kWh or 13% of all residential electricity consumption.
The commercial sector, which includes commercial and institutional buildings and public street and highway lighting, consumed about 275 billion kWh for lighting or 21% of commercial sector electricity consumption in 2011.
EIA does not have an estimate for only public street and highway lighting.
Our most recent data available indicates that in 2006, 63 billion kWh were consumed for lighting in manufacturing facilities, which was equal to about 2% of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2006.
Learn more:
EIA estimates and projections for energy end-use and in residential and commercial sectors Tables 4 and 5 of Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Early Release (reference case).
Historical U.S. annual electricity consumption by sector.
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy report 2010 U.S. Lighting Market Characterization
Last updated: January 9, 2013
Other FAQs about Electricity
- Can I choose the electricity supplier where I live?
- Can I generate and sell electricity to an electric utility?
- Does EIA have city or county-level energy consumption and price data?
- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
- Does EIA have data on each power plant in the United States?
- Does EIA have data on peak and hourly electricity demand?
- Does EIA have electricity prices by state?
- Does EIA have information on the service territories of U.S. electric utilities?
- Does EIA have maps or information on the location of electric power plants and transmission lines in the United States?
- Does EIA publish electric utility rate, tariff, and demand charge data?
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- How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity?
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- How much does it cost to generate electricity with different types of power plants?
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- How much electricity does an American home use?
- How much electricity is lost in transmission and distribution in the United States?
- How much electricity is used for cooling in the United States?
- How much electricity is used for lighting in the United States?
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- What is a capacity factor?
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- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?