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Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)

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Table C23. Total natural gas consumption and expenditures, 2012

Released: May 2016

All buildings
using natural gas
Natural gas
consumption
Natural gas
expenditures
  Number of buildings (thousand) Total
floorspace
(million
square feet)
Floorspace
per building
(thousand
square feet)
Total
(trillion
Btu)
Total
(billion cubic feet)
Total
(million dollars)
All buildings
2,933
58,725
20.0
2,248
2,193
17,279
Building floorspace (square feet)            
1,001 to 5,000
1,253
3,757
3.0
256
249
2,157
5,001 to 10,000
660
4,817
7.3
248
242
1,957
10,001 to 25,000
548
8,823
16.1
304
297
2,549
25,001 to 50,000
227
8,148
35.9
284
277
2,101
50,001 to 100,000
142
9,935
70.1
338
330
2,621
100,001 to 200,000
67
9,416
139.6
290
283
2,261
200,001 to 500,000
29
8,293
283.5
310
302
2,161
Over 500,000
6
5,535
911.1
219
214
1,473
Principal building activity
Education
234
9,520
40.7
291
284
2,200
Food sales
82
846
10.3
53
52
420
Food service
283
1,394
4.9
227
222
1,700
Health care
95
3,292
34.6
265
258
1,818
Inpatient
8
2,113
263.2
219
214
1,441
Outpatient
87
1,179
13.5
46
45
377
Lodging
99
4,918
49.5
221
215
1,628
Mercantile
356
8,493
23.9
291
284
2,392
Retail (other than mall)
232
3,371
14.5
74
72
607
Enclosed and strip malls
124
5,123
41.5
217
212
1,785
Office
595
10,290
17.3
282
275
2,306
Public assembly
205
3,888
19.0
135
132
1,063
Public order and safety
53
1,007
19.0
41
40
310
Religious worship
229
3,016
13.2
87
85
691
Service
339
2,790
8.2
122
119
950
Warehouse and storage
261
7,007
26.8
139
136
1,120
Other
59
1,378
23.3
81
79
571
Vacant
44
886
20.2
13
12
108
Year constructed
Before 1920
202
2,320
11.5
87
85
757
1920 to 1945
288
3,792
13.2
145
141
1,167
1946 to 1959
334
5,393
16.1
199
195
1,595
1960 to 1969
401
7,553
18.8
314
307
2,398
1970 to 1979
406
7,979
19.6
340
332
2,542
1980 to 1989
431
9,887
22.9
335
327
2,624
1990 to 1999
407
9,162
22.5
338
330
2,535
2000 to 2003
182
4,723
25.9
158
154
1,198
2004 to 2007
144
4,096
28.4
172
167
1,284
2008 to 2012
138
3,821
27.7
159
156
1,180
Census region and division
Northeast
433
11,068
25.6
499
487
4,599
New England
98
2,241
22.9
111
108
1,067
Middle Atlantic
335
8,827
26.3
389
379
3,533
Midwest
843
15,025
17.8
642
627
4,383
East North Central
577
10,790
18.7
494
482
3,344
West North Central
266
4,236
15.9
149
145
1,039
South
950
19,900
21.0
615
600
4,793
South Atlantic
387
9,984
25.8
305
298
2,641
East South Central
191
3,436
18.0
104
101
790
West South Central
372
6,480
17.4
207
202
1,362
West
707
12,732
18.0
491
479
3,503
Mountain
218
3,766
17.3
163
159
1,075
Pacific
489
8,966
18.3
328
320
2,428
Climate region1
Very cold/Cold
1,264
24,511
19.4
1,097
1,070
8,269
Mixed-humid
932
19,361
20.8
657
641
5,432
Mixed-dry/Hot-dry
428
7,520
17.6
255
249
1,723
Hot-humid
215
5,300
24.7
171
167
1,262
Marine
94
2,033
21.6
68
67
593
Number of floors
One
1,832
24,497
13.4
918
896
7,305
Two
723
14,665
20.3
511
499
3,956
Three
245
6,084
24.8
224
219
1,700
Four to nine
124
9,764
78.5
443
432
3,233
Ten or more
8
3,715
437.3
151
147
1,085
Number of workers (main shift)
Fewer than 5
1,225
7,858
6.4
264
258
2,221
5 to 9
606
5,355
8.8
202
197
1,678
10 to 19
498
6,799
13.6
298
291
2,296
20 to 49
348
10,613
30.5
379
369
2,954
50 to 99
154
10,320
67.0
360
352
2,808
100 to 249
74
8,880
120.1
337
329
2,546
250 or more
27
8,900
328.6
408
398
2,775
Weekly operating hours
Fewer than 40
433
3,705
8.6
97
95
783
40 to 48
726
9,960
13.7
259
252
2,118
49 to 60
757
14,006
18.5
369
360
2,960
61 to 84
454
11,494
25.3
469
458
3,747
85 to 167
281
6,734
24.0
349
340
2,684
Open continuously
282
12,827
45.4
705
688
4,986
Ownership and occupancy
Nongovernment owned
2,489
44,481
17.9
1,747
1,704
13,484
Owner occupied
1,317
20,542
15.6
890
868
6,629
Leased to tenant(s)
951
17,361
18.3
634
618
5,172
Owner occupied and leased
198
6,254
31.5
219
213
1,647
Unoccupied
23
325
14.1
4
4
37
Government owned
444
14,244
32.1
501
489
3,794
Federal
21
868
41.1
30
29
228
State
100
3,939
39.2
169
165
1,259
Local
322
9,438
29.3
302
294
2,307
Party responsible for operation
and maintenance of energy
systems
Building owner
2,439
49,100
20.1
1,852
1,807
14,092
Business owner or tenant
432
8,240
19.1
343
334
2,776
Property management
30
778
26.1
27
26
206
Other
32
607
18.9
27
26
204
Provider of direct input on energy-
related equipment purchases
Building owner
2,538
50,946
20.1
1,915
1,868
14,619
Business owner or tenant
314
6,025
19.2
264
258
2,101
Property management
18
516
28.2
17
17
121
Other
63
1,238
19.8
52
51
438
Number of establishments
One
2,244
37,156
16.6
1,527
1,490
11,567
2 to 5
514
12,432
24.2
429
418
3,352
6 to 10
91
3,092
34.1
107
105
877
11 to 20
47
2,762
58.2
112
110
880
More than 20
11
2,862
253.7
67
65
553
Currently unoccupied
26
420
16.3
6
6
49
Predominant exterior wall material
Brick, stone, or stucco
1,427
28,999
20.3
1,160
1,131
8,924
Concrete (block or poured)
631
14,517
23.0
535
522
4,166
Concrete panels
110
5,939
54.0
208
203
1,420
Siding or shingles
355
2,888
8.1
134
131
1,094
Metal panels
366
4,386
12.0
126
123
1,028
Window glass
14
1,048
76.7
48
47
385
Other
15
496
32.2
Q
Q
Q
No one major type
16
453
28.3
14
14
111
Predominant roof material
Metal surfacing
645
7,825
12.1
241
235
1,968
Synthetic or rubber
622
19,790
31.8
850
830
6,488
Built-up
516
16,026
31.1
582
568
4,301
Slate or tile shingles
220
2,800
12.8
114
111
901
Wooden materials (including
shingles)
79
611
7.7
41
40
289
Asphalt, fiberglass, or
other shingles
807
9,896
12.3
368
359
2,916
Concrete
18
838
46.2
24
23
177
Other
17
539
32.4
18
18
146
No one major type
10
400
40.0
10
9
92
Roof characteristics
Roof tilt
Flat
1,184
35,833
30.3
1,455
1,420
10,950
Shallow pitch
1,021
14,500
14.2
481
470
3,811
Steeper pitch
728
8,392
11.5
312
304
2,518
Cool roof
447
14,352
32.1
602
588
4,507
Renovations in buildings
constructed before 2008
(more than one may apply)
Any type of renovation
1,293
30,945
23.9
1,230
1,200
9,407
Addition or annex
282
10,105
35.8
468
457
3,376
Reduction in floorspace
42
1,385
33.2
70
68
497
Roof replacement
627
16,151
25.8
681
664
5,201
Exterior wall replacement
120
3,395
28.4
129
126
974
Interior wall reconfiguration
586
16,075
27.4
644
629
4,851
Window replacement
369
9,286
25.2
387
378
2,926
HVAC equipment upgrade
719
20,438
28.4
842
822
6,341
Lighting upgrade
641
19,298
30.1
810
790
6,007
Electrical upgrade
482
12,374
25.7
551
537
4,139
Plumbing system upgrade
414
10,550
25.5
515
502
3,849
Insulation upgrade
252
5,894
23.4
269
262
2,036
Fire, safety, or security upgrade
415
13,227
31.9
569
555
4,234
Structural upgrade
101
2,835
28.2
151
148
1,070
Other
17
559
32.2
14
13
107
No renovations
1,502
23,959
15.9
859
838
6,692
Buildings constructed 2008 or later
138
3,821
27.7
159
156
1,180
Energy sources
(more than one may apply)
Electricity
2,933
58,725
20.0
2,248
2,193
17,279
Natural gas
2,933
58,725
20.0
2,248
2,193
17,279
Fuel oil
164
13,663
83.4
623
608
4,456
District heat
17
2,860
168.1
108
106
748
District chilled water
21
2,431
116.6
133
130
921
Propane
69
3,396
48.9
146
143
1,035
Other
72
2,637
36.7
108
106
821
Space-heating energy sources
Natural gas
2,612
49,511
19.0
1,971
1,923
15,055
Natural gas main
2,322
42,988
18.5
1,769
1,726
13,530
Natural gas secondary
289
6,524
22.6
202
197
1,525
Other excluding natural gas
276
8,617
31.2
252
246
2,016
Buildings without heating
45
597
13.1
25
25
208
Primary space-heating
energy source
Electricity
509
11,549
22.7
335
327
2,700
Natural gas
2,322
42,988
18.5
1,769
1,726
13,530
Fuel oil
15
410
27.3
8
8
75
District heat
17
2,791
165.2
106
103
730
Propane
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Other
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
Cooling energy sources
Natural gas
12
732
61.5
58
57
423
Other excluding natural gas
2,688
56,167
20.9
2,120
2,068
16,243
Buildings without cooling
233
1,826
7.8
70
68
612
Water-heating energy sources
Natural gas
1,758
39,523
22.5
1,771
1,728
13,379
Other excluding natural gas
985
17,496
17.8
439
428
3,606
Buildings without water heating
191
1,706
9.0
38
37
293
Cooking energy sources
Natural gas
740
24,770
33.5
1,238
1,208
9,283
Other excluding natural gas
347
6,256
18.0
205
200
1,578
Buildings without cooking
1,846
27,699
15.0
805
786
6,418
Energy end uses
(more than one may apply)
Buildings with space heating
2,888
58,129
20.1
2,223
2,169
17,071
Buildings with cooling
2,700
56,899
21.1
2,178
2,125
16,667
Buildings with water heating
2,742
57,019
20.8
2,210
2,156
16,986
Buildings with cooking
1,087
31,026
28.6
1,443
1,408
10,861
Buildings with manufacturing
153
3,740
24.4
123
120
1,020
Buildings with electricity
generation
270
20,271
75.0
855
834
6,275
Percent of floorspace heated
Not heated
45
597
13.1
25
25
208
1 to 50
322
5,716
17.7
123
120
978
51 to 99
465
11,147
24.0
443
432
3,431
100
2,101
41,265
19.6
1,657
1,617
12,661
Percent of floorspace cooled
Not cooled
233
1,826
7.8
70
68
612
1 to 50
697
13,031
18.7
418
408
3,257
51 to 99
592
17,106
28.9
667
651
5,161
100
1,411
26,762
19.0
1,093
1,066
8,248
Heating equipment
(more than one may apply)
Heat pumps
233
7,560
32.5
247
241
1,984
Furnaces
550
7,046
12.8
244
238
1,993
Individual space heaters
774
15,808
20.4
545
532
4,209
District heat
17
2,833
166.8
108
105
746
Boilers
409
20,019
48.9
984
960
7,351
Packaged heating units
1,901
37,569
19.8
1,360
1,327
10,488
Other
36
1,194
33.4
54
53
451
Cooling equipment
(more than one may apply)
Residential-type central air
conditioners
1,012
10,504
10.4
416
406
3,330
Heat pumps
265
8,017
30.2
257
250
2,067
Individual air conditioners
385
9,137
23.7
374
365
2,992
District chilled water
21
2,431
116.6
133
130
921
Central chillers
127
13,745
108.5
598
584
4,259
Packaged air conditioning units
1,311
34,917
26.6
1,318
1,286
9,995
Swamp coolers
69
1,536
22.3
71
69
519
Other
Q
290
Q
10
10
86
Main equipment replaced since
1990 (more than one may apply)
Heating
1,201
21,058
17.5
790
771
6,149
Cooling
1,243
23,093
18.6
882
860
6,880
Water-heating equipment
Centralized system
2,073
34,005
16.4
1,414
1,380
10,835
Distributed system
388
8,211
21.2
257
251
2,012
Combination of centralized and
distributed system
282
14,803
52.6
539
526
4,139
Food preparation or serving areas
in non-food service buildings
(more than one may apply)
Snack bar or concession stand
96
7,867
81.7
364
355
2,660
Fast food or small restaurant
132
8,345
63.2
372
363
2,811
Cafeteria or large restaurant
104
13,043
125.6
587
572
4,206
Commercial kitchen/
food preparation area
221
14,082
63.8
673
657
4,943
Small kitchen area
459
10,883
23.7
409
399
3,190
HVAC conservation features
(more than one may apply)
Economizer cycle
441
24,683
56.0
1,015
991
7,520
Regular HVAC maintenance
1,993
50,691
25.4
1,991
1,942
15,133
Building automation system (BAS)2
519
27,821
53.6
1,100
1,073
8,094
Window and interior lighting
features (more than one may
apply)
Multipaned windows
1,852
43,774
23.6
1,752
1,709
13,407
Tinted window glass
1,163
32,631
28.1
1,290
1,259
9,673
Reflective window glass
362
12,051
33.3
541
528
4,030
External overhangs or awnings
1,119
23,220
20.7
1,030
1,005
7,857
Skylights or atriums
365
16,745
45.9
681
664
5,111
Light scheduling
607
23,109
38.1
927
905
7,031
Occupancy sensors
555
26,972
48.6
1,067
1,041
8,061
Multi-level lighting or dimming
262
11,703
44.6
573
560
4,218
Daylight harvesting
77
4,920
64.0
197
192
1,516
Demand responsive lighting
101
3,678
36.5
127
124
1,051
Building automation system (BAS) for lighting2
142
9,400
66.3
335
327
2,536
Equipment usage reduced when
building not in full use
(more than one may apply)
Heating
2,313
46,818
20.2
1,675
1,635
13,009
Cooling
2,183
45,726
20.9
1,644
1,604
12,753
Lighting
2,774
55,033
19.8
2,105
2,054
16,253
Annual consumption
(hundred cubic feet)
1,000 or less
1,016
6,952
6.8
53
51
629
1,001 to 5,000
1,151
13,335
11.6
282
275
2,526
5,001 to 10,000
325
7,987
24.6
238
232
1,931
10,001 to 25,000
289
11,157
38.6
459
448
3,510
25,001 to 50,000
88
7,156
81.3
311
304
2,346
50,001 to 100,000
41
5,278
127.4
285
278
2,104
Over 100,000
23
6,860
301.2
621
606
4,234
   
1These climate regions were created by the Building America program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
2In earlier CBECS publications, BAS was referred to as Energy Management and Control System (EMCS).
Q = Data withheld either because the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50 percent or fewer than 20 buildings were sampled.
N = No cases in reporting sample.
Notes: • Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. • See the
Guide to the 2012 CBECS Detailed Tables or CBECS Terminology for definitions of terms used in these tables and/or comparison of differences with prior CBECS tables. Both references can be accessed from http://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2012/ • Statistics for the Energy end uses category represent total consumption in buildings that have the end use, not consumption specifically for that particular end use. • HVAC = Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Forms EIA-871A and C of the 2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.