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Table B6. Building size, number of buildings, 2012

Released: May 2016

Number of buildings (thousand)
Building size
  All
buildings		 1,001
to
5,000 square feet		 5,001
to
10,000 square feet		 10,001
to
25,000 square feet		 25,001
to
50,000 square feet		 50,001
to 100,000 square feet		 100,001
to
200,000 square feet		 200,001
to
500,000 square feet		 Over
500,000 square feet
All buildings 5,557 2,777 1,229 884 332 199 90 38 8
Principal building activity                  
Education 389 143 51 75 41 48 22 9 Q
Food sales 177 126 Q Q Q Q Q N N
Food service 380 267 89 24 Q Q N N N
Health care 157 81 33 21 8 8 2 3 1
Inpatient 10 N N Q Q 3 1 2 1
Outpatient 147 81 33 21 7 5 Q 1 Q
Lodging 158 34 28 44 21 20 8 3 1
Mercantile 602 250 143 116 45 26 16 5 1
Retail (other than mall) 438 227 97 75 22 Q 9 Q Q
Enclosed and strip malls 164 Q 46 42 22 20 7 3 1
Office 1,012 532 230 129 66 32 15 6 3
Public assembly 352 162 77 73 24 9 4 2 1
Public order and safety 84 Q 28 Q Q Q Q Q Q
Religious worship 412 174 111 90 28 7 Q Q N
Service 619 372 143 78 19 Q Q Q Q
Warehouse and storage 796 380 180 142 49 24 13 7 1
Other 125 59 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Vacant 296 165 59 47 14 9 Q Q Q
Year constructed                  
Before 1920 362 210 77 50 13 7 3 Q Q
1920 to 1945 488 291 83 71 26 9 6 2 1
1946 to 1959 599 352 112 81 24 18 7 4 (*)
1960 to 1969 639 290 158 109 40 26 10 5 1
1970 to 1979 684 336 148 118 45 22 10 4 1
1980 to 1989 915 415 231 152 66 26 14 9 2
1990 to 1999 845 425 197 119 44 39 14 6 1
2000 to 2003 375 178 72 70 24 15 13 2 1
2004 to 2007 347 162 73 54 28 22 5 3 1
2008 to 2012 303 119 78 57 22 16 9 2 Q
Census region                  
Northeast 805 372 171 152 47 36 18 8 2
Midwest 1,237 645 257 183 83 40 18 10 2
South 2,247 1,159 491 327 127 88 37 13 3
West 1,267 601 310 221 75 34 17 7 1
Climate region1                  
Very cold/Cold 2,031 1,002 442 344 122 71 31 16 3
Mixed-humid 1,743 930 365 246 89 69 30 12 3
Mixed-dry/Hot-dry 837 370 225 150 54 22 12 5 1
Hot-humid 799 400 169 119 58 32 15 4 1
Marine 147 Q 29 24 10 6 2 1 Q
Number of floors                  
One 3,836 2,195 836 519 161 81 32 10 1
Two 1,158 423 301 254 100 54 18 7 1
Three 374 137 74 78 46 24 12 3 Q
Four to nine 177 Q Q 32 24 39 26 12 2
Ten or more 13 N N N Q Q 3 6 3
Elevators and escalators
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any elevators 405 Q 42 94 86 85 53 26 6
Number of elevators                  
One 272 Q 39 91 64 41 17 5 Q
Two to five 118 N Q Q 21 43 33 13 1
Six or more 16 N N N Q Q 2 8 5
Any escalators 10 N N Q N Q Q 1 3
Number of workers (main shift)                  
Fewer than 5 2,892 1,984 550 279 52 21 5 Q Q
5 to 9 1,085 547 331 159 39 7 Q Q Q
10 to 19 731 217 239 195 58 17 4 Q Q
20 to 49 513 30 108 202 100 56 14 2 Q
50 to 99 206 N Q 41 64 62 32 6 Q
100 to 249 93 N N Q 18 33 19 15 1
250 or more 37 N N Q Q 4 13 12 6
Weekly operating hours                  
Fewer than 40 1,149 746 216 139 34 10 3 Q Q
40 to 48 1,346 750 298 180 58 40 16 4 Q
49 to 60 1,244 496 338 239 91 53 18 8 1
61 to 84 764 309 161 161 73 35 17 8 2
85 to 167 479 251 80 69 32 24 15 5 1
Open continuously 575 226 137 95 45 37 20 12 4
Ownership and occupancy                  
Nongovernment owned 4,781 2,435 1,101 753 265 130 65 27 6
Owner occupied 2,466 1,311 570 377 114 52 31 11 2
Leased to tenant(s) 1,745 881 402 260 103 59 26 11 3
Owner occupied and leased 349 108 88 85 38 16 7 5 2
Unoccupied 221 135 41 30 Q Q Q Q Q
Government owned 776 342 129 131 67 69 25 11 2
Federal 33 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 1
State 185 81 Q 37 17 20 10 4 Q
Local 558 252 104 88 45 47 15 7 1
Party responsible for operation
and maintenance of energy
systems		                  
Building owner 4,715 2,377 1,042 734 281 166 77 32 7
Business owner or tenant 724 339 165 133 42 28 11 5 1
Property management 54 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Other 64 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Provider of direct input on energy-related equipment purchases                  
Building owner 4,876 2,458 1,062 768 296 173 80 33 7
Business owner or tenant 540 256 133 91 28 20 8 4 1
Property management 35 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Other 106 44 30 Q Q Q Q Q Q
Number of establishments                  
One 4,205 2,285 907 600 208 125 55 21 3
2 to 5 862 315 235 179 65 35 21 10 2
6 to 10 147 Q 34 54 20 16 4 1 1
11 to 20 68 Q Q 16 23 10 5 2 (*)
More than 20 27 Q N Q Q 6 3 3 2
Currently unoccupied 248 145 50 34 Q Q Q Q Q
Campus or complex activity                  
Not part of a campus or complex 3,683 1,889 842 551 207 118 52 20 4
Primary or secondary school 237 114 37 46 20 11 7 3 Q
College or university 84 Q Q 24 14 15 8 3 Q
Office complex 154 66 35 27 14 7 3 2 1
Retail complex 258 108 58 47 22 13 8 3 Q
Storage complex 314 182 72 40 Q Q 2 Q Q
Religious campus or complex 197 97 45 42 Q Q Q Q N
Health care complex 52 Q Q Q Q 7 4 3 1
Lodging or resort complex 65 31 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Transportation complex 35 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Government complex 104 52 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Other 371 191 82 59 20 14 4 2 Q
Predominant exterior wall material                  
Brick, stone, or stucco 2,312 1,079 487 406 166 111 44 17 3
Concrete (block or poured) 1,121 519 246 193 73 51 28 10 1
Concrete panels 210 44 50 49 31 18 11 5 2
Siding or shingles 905 612 179 89 20 Q Q Q Q
Metal panels 933 493 256 132 33 14 3 2 Q
Window glass 17 Q Q Q Q Q Q 1 1
Other 37 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
No one major type 21 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Predominant roof material                  
Metal surfacing 1,672 918 419 235 55 31 10 2 Q
Synthetic or rubber 911 327 185 178 101 67 32 18 3
Built-up 836 330 159 163 84 57 28 12 3
Slate or tile shingles 406 227 99 50 19 7 Q Q Q
Wooden materials (including
shingles)		 157 99 37 16 Q Q Q Q N
Asphalt, fiberglass, or
other shingles		 1,483 852 312 213 64 29 10 2 1
Concrete 51 Q Q Q Q Q 3 Q Q
Other 24 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
No one major type 18 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Roof characteristics                  
Roof tilt                  
Flat 1,960 766 390 382 194 131 63 29 6
Shallow pitch 2,148 1,212 491 285 88 43 21 7 2
Steeper pitch 1,449 799 348 217 50 26 6 1 1
Cool roof 740 314 141 143 57 43 24 16 3
Renovations in buildings
constructed before 2008
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any type of renovation 2,094 945 471 353 152 100 44 24 5
Addition or annex 444 158 102 80 44 34 14 10 2
Reduction in floorspace 71 32 Q Q Q Q Q 1 (*)
Roof replacement 987 446 225 171 61 47 19 14 3
Exterior wall replacement 194 104 32 31 12 8 4 2 1
Interior wall reconfiguration 889 390 185 150 73 51 21 14 3
Window replacement 560 246 119 99 45 31 11 7 2
HVAC equipment upgrade 1,101 443 246 205 93 62 30 17 4
Lighting upgrade 982 405 221 166 80 62 27 18 4
Electrical upgrade 747 358 154 120 49 37 15 11 3
Plumbing system upgrade 644 308 139 95 48 34 8 10 2
Insulation upgrade 382 180 78 68 27 19 6 4 1
Fire, safety, or security upgrade 616 250 133 106 53 42 16 12 3
Structural upgrade 152 59 36 30 Q 10 3 2 1
Other 39 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
No renovations 3,160 1,713 680 473 159 84 37 12 2
Buildings constructed 2008 or later 303 119 78 57 22 16 9 2 Q
Energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 5,234 2,556 1,171 852 326 195 90 37 8
Natural gas 2,933 1,253 660 548 227 142 67 29 6
Fuel oil 467 204 74 67 39 39 19 18 6
District heat 48 Q Q Q 6 10 9 5 2
District chilled water 54 Q Q 9 Q 10 9 4 1
Propane 510 252 134 74 24 14 8 3 1
Other 172 69 41 31 16 8 4 3 1
Space-heating energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 2,858 1,379 606 482 189 123 54 21 4
Natural gas 2,612 1,115 595 494 203 121 54 25 4
Fuel oil 270 148 49 42 15 9 4 2 (*)
District heat 48 Q Q Q 6 10 9 5 2
Propane 342 180 96 51 9 Q Q Q Q
Other 101 48 29 Q Q Q Q Q Q
Primary space-heating
energy source		                  
Electricity 1,819 928 398 280 106 70 27 8 2
Natural gas 2,322 1,025 520 433 174 97 48 23 4
Fuel oil 205 119 37 32 Q 6 2 Q Q
District heat 47 Q Q Q 6 10 9 5 2
Propane 261 146 70 35 Q Q Q Q N
Other 67 35 Q Q Q Q Q Q N
Cooling energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 4,413 2,054 996 764 296 179 81 35 7
Natural gas 12 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q (*)
District chilled water 54 Q Q 9 Q 10 9 4 1
Water-heating energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 2,658 1,304 594 431 167 94 46 18 4
Natural gas 1,758 684 384 351 157 109 49 21 4
Fuel oil 77 Q Q Q Q Q 2 1 (*)
District heat 25 Q Q Q Q 6 6 4 2
Propane 142 58 47 26 Q Q Q Q Q
Cooking energy sources
(more than one may apply)		            
Electricity 1,010 441 225 167 63 63 31 16 4
Natural gas 740 265 168 126 64 62 33 18 4
Propane 144 77 37 17 Q 6 Q Q Q
Energy end uses
(more than one may apply)		                  
Buildings with space heating 4,722 2,257 1,046 797 304 187 86 36 8
Buildings with cooling 4,461 2,062 1,004 774 302 187 88 37 8
Buildings with water heating 4,423 2,032 992 775 307 186 86 36 8
Buildings with cooking 1,589 673 376 257 108 96 48 25 6
Buildings with manufacturing 259 86 75 51 28 11 5 2 Q
Buildings with electricity
generation		 410 92 77 64 55 58 35 22 6
Percent of floorspace heated                  
Not heated 835 520 183 86 28 12 4 Q Q
1 to 50 697 301 186 143 36 19 8 4 1
51 to 99 727 299 184 135 47 36 16 8 2
100 3,298 1,657 676 520 221 133 63 24 5
Percent of floorspace cooled                  
Not cooled 1,096 716 225 110 30 13 Q Q Q
1 to 50 1,173 465 308 248 89 36 17 8 1
51 to 99 897 310 236 173 76 58 25 15 3
100 2,391 1,286 459 352 137 92 46 15 3
Percent lit when open                  
Zero 70 54 Q Q Q N N Q N
1 to 50 1,099 564 259 182 54 29 8 3 Q
51 to 99 1,666 638 418 331 126 92 40 18 3
100 2,222 1,196 436 317 141 72 41 16 4
Building never open/electricity
not used		 501 326 105 49 Q Q Q Q Q
Percent lit during off hours                  
Zero 2,489 1,381 590 359 95 38 21 4 1
1 to 50 2,441 1,035 521 448 211 138 57 26 5
51 to 100 202 90 42 25 15 15 8 5 1
Building always open with
no "off hours"		 102 50 Q 20 Q Q 3 2 (*)
Electricity not used 323 222 58 31 Q Q Q Q Q
Heating equipment (more than one may apply)                  
Heat pumps 628 286 147 93 46 39 12 5 1
Furnaces 755 359 194 140 40 15 5 2 (*)
Individual space heaters 1,247 612 281 195 84 41 21 11 2
District heat 48 Q Q Q 6 10 9 5 2
Boilers 544 128 99 123 75 69 31 17 3
Packaged heating units 2,802 1,259 628 511 202 120 55 21 4
Other 62 Q Q Q Q 8 Q Q Q
Cooling equipment (more than one may apply)                  
Residential-type central air conditioners 1,546 796 403 246 72 21 7 2 Q
Heat pumps 692 321 168 91 52 41 13 5 1
Individual air conditioners 709 362 136 116 46 29 12 7 1
District chilled water 54 Q Q 9 Q 10 9 4 1
Central chillers 163 Q Q 36 29 36 23 18 5
Packaged air conditioning units 1,909 697 418 407 181 124 54 24 5
Swamp coolers 109 58 Q Q Q 7 Q Q Q
Other Q Q N Q Q Q Q Q Q
Main equipment replaced since 1990 (more than one may apply)                  
Heating 1,874 916 427 314 114 64 26 11 2
Cooling 1,971 952 454 329 124 67 28 15 3
Water-heating equipment                  
Centralized system 3,348 1,653 789 538 198 103 45 17 4
Distributed system 690 322 120 143 57 28 13 5 1
Combination of centralized and distributed system 385 57 82 93 51 55 29 14 3
Lighting equipment types
(more than one may apply)		                  
Incandescent 1,826 824 396 311 135 89 45 20 5
Standard fluorescent 4,649 2,192 1,045 786 308 189 85 37 8
Compact fluorescent 2,302 925 517 427 194 138 65 30 7
High-intensity discharge 525 106 99 140 74 53 30 17 5
Halogen 905 299 201 181 96 71 34 18 5
LED 473 108 94 112 61 48 28 17 5
Other 10 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q
Refrigeration equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any refrigeration 3,984 1,815 903 688 276 177 82 35 8
Walk-in units 811 344 150 116 60 73 40 22 5
Cases or cabinets 915 379 185 142 75 69 38 22 5
Large cold storage areas 78 Q Q Q Q 9 6 4 1
Commercial ice makers 846 279 172 147 82 90 44 25 6
Residential-type or compact units 3,388 1,520 791 585 239 150 68 29 7
Vending machines 960 182 167 236 153 117 66 31 7
No refrigeration 1,573 962 326 196 56 22 8 2 Q
Office equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Desktop computers 3,977 1,705 916 736 298 189 86 37 8
With flat screen monitors 3,847 1,627 879 727 296 187 86 37 8
With multiple monitors 911 250 220 201 100 78 36 20 6
Laptop computers 2,730 1,031 637 540 250 158 72 34 8
Dedicated servers 1,748 526 394 378 198 144 68 33 7
Laser printers 2,339 890 540 464 206 140 65 27 7
Inkjet printers 2,187 992 538 378 144 78 38 17 3
FAX machines 3,185 1,308 730 602 262 164 80 32 7
Photocopiers 2,163 700 468 492 231 156 75 33 7
Number of desktop computers                  
None 1,581 1,072 313 147 34 10 4 Q Q
1 to 4 2,039 1,197 478 287 52 17 8 Q N
5 to 9 821 358 237 152 52 16 6 Q Q
10 to 19 482 133 122 130 56 29 10 2 Q
20 to 49 355 Q 76 122 69 48 17 6 1
50 to 99 143 Q Q 40 49 32 11 6 1
100 to 249 92 N Q Q 19 39 19 7 2
250 or more 44 N N N Q 9 15 15 5
Number of laptop computers                  
None 2,827 1,746 592 344 82 41 18 4 Q
1 to 4 1,944 942 497 357 94 36 14 4 Q
5 to 9 350 77 99 83 54 25 9 2 Q
10 to 19 181 Q 32 51 43 28 11 5 1
20 to 49 144 Q Q 33 42 37 14 6 1
50 to 99 58 N N Q 13 17 10 3 1
100 to 249 35 N N Q Q 11 10 6 1
250 or more 20 N N Q Q Q 5 7 3
Number of dedicated servers                  
None 3,809 2,251 835 506 134 55 22 5 1
1 to 4 1,562 517 382 338 163 105 42 13 2
5 to 9 97 Q Q 28 18 18 10 6 1
10 to 19 50 Q Q Q 12 10 10 6 1
20 to 49 25 N Q Q Q 7 3 4 1
50 or more 13 N Q N Q Q 4 4 2
Number of photocopiers                  
None 3,394 2,077 761 392 101 43 15 4 1
One 1,325 590 322 275 81 37 17 2 Q
2 to 4 648 105 135 192 105 73 29 9 1
5 to 9 116 Q Q 20 34 26 14 9 1
10 or more 75 Q Q Q 11 20 15 13 5
Number of TVs or video displays                  
None 2,718 1,637 578 343 101 39 15 4 1
One 1,145 661 265 159 38 14 6 Q Q
2 to 4 1,035 368 280 231 98 40 14 5 Q
5 to 9 314 92 77 72 30 28 11 4 1
10 to 19 154 Q Q 39 28 32 13 5 1
20 to 49 106 Q Q 27 23 23 15 7 1
50 to 99 48 N Q Q 10 9 9 5 1
100 or more 37 N N Q Q 13 7 7 3
Food preparation or serving areas
in non-food service buildings
(more than one may apply)		                  
Snack bar or concession stand 153 43 32 24 13 14 15 8 3
Fast food or small restaurant 173 38 39 33 20 19 14 8 3
Cafeteria or large restaurant 130 Q Q 13 24 45 23 13 4
Commercial kitchen/
food preparation area		 282 38 51 72 39 43 22 13 3
Small kitchen area 736 316 187 132 48 30 14 7 2
Separate computer areas
(more than one may apply)		                  
Data center or server farm 97 Q Q Q 18 15 13 12 4
Computer-based training room 244 31 29 52 43 42 27 16 4
Student or public computer center 238 30 35 48 38 49 25 13 1
HVAC conservation features
(more than one may apply)		                  
Economizer cycle 601 128 95 137 82 83 46 25 5
Regular HVAC maintenance 3,178 1,286 706 614 277 169 82 36 8
Building automation system (BAS)2 781 197 130 163 94 101 62 28 6
Window and interior lighting
features (more than one may
apply)		                  
Multipaned windows 3,012 1,278 708 531 236 154 68 30 6
Tinted window glass 1,875 722 410 360 184 114 55 26 5
Reflective window glass 549 183 129 107 53 45 19 10 2
External overhangs or awnings 1,867 855 448 321 114 78 33 15 3
Skylights or atriums 591 138 146 144 62 52 31 15 4
Light scheduling 918 304 188 182 102 77 40 19 5
Occupancy sensors 813 172 153 196 110 99 54 24 6
Multi-level lighting or dimming 349 78 78 72 47 39 19 13 2
Daylight harvesting 125 39 Q 26 16 14 10 4 1
Demand responsive lighting 176 55 44 38 19 9 7 3 1
Building automation system (BAS) for lighting2 208 42 35 43 27 30 19 9 3
Equipment usage reduced when
building not in full use
(more than one may apply)		                  
Heating 3,699 1,737 842 624 242 149 71 28 6
Cooling 3,517 1,604 813 610 236 148 73 28 6
Lighting 4,757 2,281 1,072 796 303 180 84 34 7
 
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.
(*) = Value rounds to zero in the units displayed.
Notes: • Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. • See Guide to the 2012 CBECS Detailed Tables or CBECS Terminology for definition 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/
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Form EIA-871A of the 2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.