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Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)

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Release date: September 2021
Revised date: September 2022
Table B17.  Occupancy of nongovernment-owned and government-owned buildings, number of buildings, 2018
Number of buildings (thousand)
Nongovernment-owned buildings Government-owned buildings
  All
buildings		 All
buildings		 Owner occupied Leased to
tenant(s)		 Unocc-upied All
buildings		 Federal State Local
All buildings 5,918 4,982 3,249 1,581 152 937 70 256 610
Building floorspace (square feet)                  
1,001 to 5,000  2,833 2,390 1,565 727 98 443 Q 113 290
5,001 to 10,000  1,359 1,174 791 339 Q 185 Q Q 124
10,001 to 25,000 981 855 557 294 Q 126 Q 30 89
25,001 to 50,000 386 321 203 115 Q 65 Q 19 38
50,001 to 100,000  218 143 82 59 Q 75 Q 28 43
100,001 to 200,000  93 63 34 28 Q 30 Q 9 19
200,001 to 500,000  40 29 13 15 Q 11 1 4 6
Over 500,000  9 7 4 3 Q 2 1 1 1
Principal building activity                  
Education 437 166 142 24 N 271 Q 92 169
Food sales  163 163 126 37 N N N N N
Food service  286 260 162 98 N Q Q Q Q
Health care  137 130 74 56 N 7 Q Q Q
Inpatient  9 7 6 Q N Q Q Q Q
Outpatient  129 123 68 55 N Q Q Q Q
Lodging  207 197 130 67 N Q Q Q Q
Mercantile  517 515 236 279 N Q Q Q Q
Retail (other than mall)  350 348 201 147 N Q Q Q Q
Enclosed and strip malls  167 167 34 132 N N N N N
Office  970 796 485 311 N 175 11 34 129
Public assembly  488 327 278 48 N 162 Q 36 120
Public order and safety  81 Q Q Q N 57 Q Q 43
Religious worship  439 439 412 Q N N N N N
Service  867 726 465 261 N 141 33 Q 75
Warehouse and storage  1,004 963 633 330 N 42 3 Q Q
Other  113 88 73 15 N 25 Q 10 Q
Vacant  208 189 Q 17 152 Q Q Q Q
Year constructed                  
Before 1920 329 278 212 57 Q 51 Q Q 34
1920 to 1945 379 315 222 85 Q 65 1 Q 42
1946 to 1959 517 442 310 108 Q 75 Q 21 53
1960 to 1969 685 592 377 203 Q 94 9 30 54
1970 to 1979 831 690 440 213 Q 141 Q 33 95
1980 to 1989 794 682 405 236 Q 112 Q 33 74
1990 to 1999 921 772 528 231 Q 149 8 34 107
2000 to 2009 924 760 486 270 Q 164 Q 49 93
2010 to 2018 537 452 269 178 Q 86 Q 20 58
Census region                  
Northeast 793 708 490 212 Q 85 10 16 58
Midwest 1,719 1,483 1,022 412 Q 236 Q 47 173
South 2,143 1,803 1,204 533 66 340 31 106 203
West 1,264 988 533 424 Q 276 13 87 176
Climate zonea                  
Cold or very cold 539 478 331 145 Q 61 Q Q 33
Cool 1,727 1,481 1,020 409 Q 246 9 61 176
Mixed mild 1,216 1,040 661 355 Q 176 Q 39 121
Warm 1,606 1,291 826 412 53 314 22 90 202
Hot or very hot 831 691 411 260 Q 140 Q 53 79
Number of floors                  
1 4,106 3,428 2,184 1,124 120 678 55 184 439
2 1,286 1,132 745 364 Q 154 9 26 119
3 370 292 224 60 Q 77 Q 32 41
4 to 9 142 116 88 26 Q 25 1 13 11
10 or more 16 13 7 6 Q 2 Q 1 1
Elevators and escalators
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any elevators 503 378 270 101 Q 125 10 41 74
1 elevator 366 278 211 62 Q 88 7 26 55
2 to 5 elevators 121 88 51 34 Q 33 2 14 17
6 or more elevators 16 13 8 5 Q 4 1 1 2
Any escalators 14 11 4 Q Q 3 Q Q 1
Number of workers (main shift)                  
Fewer than 5 3,270 2,792 1,887 753 152 478 Q 129 319
5 to 9 1,116 943 614 329 N 173 Q 48 116
10 to 19 713 624 416 209 N 89 Q 27 49
20 to 49 492 399 228 171 N 92 Q 17 67
50 to 99 201 133 62 71 N 68 Q 23 38
100 to 249 90 62 28 34 N 28 3 8 17
250 or more 37 27 15 13 N 9 1 4 5
Weekly operating hours                  
Fewer than 40 1,370 1,164 784 228 152 206 Q 60 140
40 to 48 1,483 1,162 776 386 N 322 27 84 211
49 to 60 1,250 1,035 667 369 N 215 9 48 158
61 to 84 645 589 358 232 N 56 Q 23 28
85 to 167 465 437 282 155 N 27 Q 9 10
Open continuously 705 594 383 211 N 111 Q 33 64
Party responsible for operation
of energy systems		                  
Building owner 4,872 3,986 3,082 768 135 886 68 244 574
Business owner or tenant 831 811 128 666 Q 21 Q Q 17
Property management 97 87 22 65 N Q Q Q Q
Other 118 98 17 81 N 20 Q Q Q
Provider of direct input on energy-
related equipment purchases		                  
Building owner 5,127 4,245 3,128 984 132 882 67 236 579
Business owner or tenant 483 469 57 393 Q 13 Q Q Q
Property management 49 45 Q 32 N Q Q Q Q
Other 260 223 52 171 Q 37 Q Q 16
Number of establishments                  
One 4,719 3,876 2,794 1,082 N 842 65 237 540
2 to 5 811 748 394 354 N 63 Q 11 48
6 to 10 135 127 42 84 N Q Q Q Q
11 to 20 63 60 13 48 N Q Q Q Q
More than 20 19 18 6 12 N 1 Q Q Q
Currently unoccupied 170 152 N N 152 Q Q Q Q
Campus or complex activity                  
Not part of a campus or complex 3,622 3,190 2,027 1,046 117 433 46 81 306
Primary or secondary school 247 40 34 Q Q 207 Q 69 138
College or university 103 60 44 Q N 43 N 42 Q
Office complex 141 135 79 55 Q 5 Q Q Q
Retail complex 250 249 129 103 Q Q N N Q
Storage complex 418 403 278 124 Q Q Q Q Q
Religious campus or complex 253 253 241 Q Q N N N N
Health care complex 60 55 40 15 Q 5 Q Q Q
Lodging or resort complex 102 96 68 26 Q Q Q Q Q
Transportation complex 36 Q Q Q N 14 N Q 13
Government complex 124 Q Q Q N 124 18 Q 91
Other 563 478 299 166 Q 85 Q 34 48
Predominant exterior wall material                  
Brick, stone, or stucco 2,490 2,005 1,258 690 57 485 40 132 314
Concrete (block or poured) 935 811 506 257 48 124 3 32 89
Concrete panels 137 119 60 59 Q 18 Q Q 12
Siding or shingles 948 810 597 195 Q 138 Q Q 86
Metal panels 1,250 1,095 723 342 Q 154 Q 44 97
Window glass 19 15 5 9 Q 5 Q Q Q
Other 139 128 100 28 Q 11 Q Q Q
Predominant roof material                  
Metal surfacing 2,198 1,847 1,254 520 73 350 Q 76 254
Synthetic or rubber 940 791 482 288 Q 149 12 42 96
Built-up 708 544 290 232 Q 164 Q 60 87
Slate or tile shingles 376 310 203 101 Q 65 Q Q 42
Wooden materials (including
shingles)		 166 149 84 64 Q Q Q Q Q
Asphalt, fiberglass, or
other shingles		 1,311 1,158 827 304 Q 153 8 35 110
Concrete 83 64 31 32 N 19 Q Q Q
Other 136 118 77 40 Q 18 Q Q 4
Roof tilt                  
Flat 1,914 1,568 839 669 60 346 38 118 190
Shallow pitch 2,313 1,993 1,311 612 70 320 22 59 239
Steeper pitch 1,691 1,420 1,099 300 Q 271 Q 79 182
Cool roof characteristics (more than one may apply)                  
White/reflective coating or paint 1,285 1,082 627 421 Q 203 13 64 126
White/reflective tiles or shingles 140 123 81 42 Q 17 Q Q Q
Aluminum coating 528 471 295 160 Q 57 Q 25 31
Ballasted roof system 114 75 45 30 Q 38 Q 3 32
Other cool roof property 35 26 17 9 N 9 Q Q Q
Renovations since 2000
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any type of renovation 2,032 1,726 1,161 532 32 306 25 89 191
Addition or annex 327 255 192 61 Q 73 Q 20 47
Reduction in floorspace 35 29 10 19 N 5 Q Q Q
Roof replacement 847 735 522 202 Q 112 5 37 70
Interior wall reconfiguration 709 606 372 230 Q 103 Q 28 72
Window replacement 484 428 316 109 Q 56 3 12 41
HVAC equipment upgrade 1,006 850 552 277 Q 156 Q 41 102
Lighting upgrade 1,012 855 575 263 Q 157 9 51 97
Electrical upgrade 565 486 337 135 Q 79 4 27 47
Plumbing system upgrade 584 486 332 132 Q 99 4 21 74
Insulation upgrade 307 265 202 60 Q 42 Q 11 30
Fire, safety, or security upgrade 570 467 336 127 Q 104 3 20 81
Structural upgrade 147 126 100 22 Q 21 Q Q 13
Other 43 37 31 5 N Q Q Q Q
No renovations 3,530 2,954 1,898 937 119 576 44 150 383
Buildings constructed 2013 or later 357 302 190 111 Q 55 Q 17 36
Energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 5,613 4,693 3,104 1,511 78 920 70 246 603
Natural gas 2,974 2,502 1,637 844 Q 471 20 139 312
Fuel oil 583 442 337 105 Q 140 6 37 98
District heat 86 53 48 Q Q 34 Q 26 5
District chilled water 55 25 23 2 Q 30 0 26 4
Propane 676 596 434 140 Q 79 Q 17 42
Solar 99 62 44 18 Q 37 Q 10 26
Wood, coal, and other 180 172 143 29 N Q Q Q Q
Space-heating energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 2,563 2,165 1,372 780 Q 398 40 103 255
Natural gas 2,587 2,166 1,430 715 Q 421 17 123 281
Fuel oil 266 229 175 55 Q 36 Q Q 33
District heat 83 51 46 Q Q 32 Q 24 5
Propane 431 381 265 94 Q 50 Q Q 27
Other sources1 127 125 109 Q N Q Q Q Q
Primary space-heating
energy source		                  
Electricity 1,856 1,551 980 562 Q 305 35 62 209
Natural gas 2,344 1,959 1,314 624 Q 385 16 114 256
Fuel oil 222 190 137 53 Q 32 Q Q 29
District heat 78 49 44 Q Q 29 Q 22 5
Propane 338 294 216 56 Q 44 Q Q Q
Other sources1 63 61 57 Q N Q N N Q
Cooling energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 4,584 3,840 2,527 1,280 33 744 57 185 502
Natural gas 4 4 Q Q N Q N Q Q
District chilled water 55 25 23 2 Q 30 0 26 4
Water-heating energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 2,785 2,377 1,500 850 Q 408 36 94 279
Natural gas 1,885 1,562 1,024 531 Q 322 17 101 204
Fuel oil 72 56 42 Q Q 16 Q Q 14
District heat 38 23 22 2 N 15 Q 12 1
Propane 145 128 97 31 Q 17 Q Q Q
Cooking energy sources
(more than one may apply)		                  
Electricity 1,216 1,012 708 301 Q 203 6 47 151
Natural gas 727 604 406 198 Q 123 4 44 75
Propane 159 135 108 26 N 24 Q Q 11
Energy end uses
(more than one may apply)		                  
Buildings with space heating 4,901 4,103 2,747 1,304 52 798 69 206 524
Buildings with cooling 4,631 3,861 2,548 1,280 33 769 57 206 506
Buildings with water heating 4,595 3,850 2,564 1,252 Q 744 60 205 480
Buildings with cooking 1,738 1,457 1,043 411 Q 281 14 76 191
Buildings with manufacturing 322 300 189 110 N 22 Q 1 19
Buildings with electricity
generation		 706 510 381 129 Q 196 7 51 137
Buildings with lighting 5,509 4,594 3,052 1,464 78 916 70 246 600
Percentage of floorspace heated                  
Not heated 1,017 879 502 277 100 138 Q Q 86
1 to 50 693 639 407 226 Q 54 Q Q 43
51 to 99 905 760 512 226 Q 145 Q 59 71
100 3,303 2,704 1,827 851 Q 599 46 143 410
Percentage of floorspace cooled                  
Not cooled 1,288 1,120 701 301 118 167 Q Q 104
1 to 50 1,111 998 626 362 Q 112 4 26 82
51 to 99 998 804 535 268 Q 194 10 71 112
100 2,522 2,059 1,387 651 Q 463 42 109 312
Percentage lit when open                  
Zero Q Q Q Q N N N N N
1 to 50 1,280 1,107 840 268 N 172 Q 35 132
51 to 99 1,784 1,498 928 570 N 286 31 86 169
100 2,272 1,842 1,232 609 N 431 34 125 271
Building never open/electricity
not used		 513 465 221 93 152 48 Q Q 38
Percentage lit during off hours                  
Zero 2,054 1,711 1,199 500 Q 343 Q 92 227
1 to 50 3,243 2,705 1,744 912 Q 537 44 142 351
51 to 100 238 201 116 68 Q 37 2 Q 23
Building always open with
no "off hours"		 78 76 46 Q N 3 Q Q Q
Electricity not used 305 288 145 Q 74 Q N Q Q
Heating equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Packaged heating units 2,187 1,848 1,128 710 Q 339 26 86 226
Furnaces 1,621 1,411 926 455 Q 209 Q 46 141
Individual space heaters 1,246 1,114 779 331 Q 132 5 46 80
Boilers 703 523 366 156 Q 180 19 45 117
Heat pumps 673 539 374 163 Q 134 Q 34 90
District heat 83 51 46 Q Q 32 Q 24 5
Duct reheat 134 104 49 49 Q 31 Q 15 11
Other 17 17 Q 4 N Q Q Q Q
Cooling equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Packaged air-conditioning units 2,565 2,186 1,361 801 Q 379 34 93 251
Residential-type central air
conditioners		 1,309 1,083 717 362 Q 226 Q 53 159
Individual air conditioners 735 622 446 177 Q 113 3 37 73
Central chillers 202 121 89 33 Q 80 7 29 44
Heat pumps 492 409 290 115 Q 84 Q 19 57
District chilled water 55 25 23 2 Q 30 0 26 4
Swamp coolers 85 78 54 23 Q 6 Q Q Q
Other Q Q Q Q N Q Q Q N
HVAC features
(more than one may apply)		                  
Economizer cycle 747 521 318 202 Q 226 7 62 157
Variable air volume (VAV) system 698 531 345 180 Q 166 8 61 98
Dedicated outside air system (DOAS) 249 168 116 47 Q 81 1 35 45
Demand controlled ventilation (DCV) 349 254 161 92 Q 95 Q 17 70
Regular HVAC maintenance 3,554 2,856 1,889 932 Q 699 45 189 465
Building automation system (BAS) controls heating/cooling 933 650 443 205 Q 284 13 96 175
Internet-connected/smart thermostat 325 269 203 66 N 56 Q 20 31
Programmable thermostat 1,545 1,320 828 483 Q 226 Q 42 165
Main equipment replaced since
2000 (more than one may apply)		                  
Heating 1,937 1,683 1,142 503 Q 254 21 50 183
Cooling 1,269 1,082 762 306 Q 187 Q 44 130
Water-heating equipment                  
Centralized system 3,538 2,951 2,022 899 Q 587 52 156 379
Distributed system 782 670 404 262 Q 112 Q 34 72
Combination of centralized and
distributed system		 274 229 138 91 Q 45 1 15 29
Generation technologies
(more than one may apply)		                  
Reciprocating engine generators 580 420 319 101 Q 160 6 41 113
Solar panels 94 62 44 18 Q 32 Q Q 22
Other generation technology 43 35 25 11 N 7 Q 2 Q
Lighting equipment types
(more than one may apply)		                  
Incandescent 1,100 971 678 280 Q 129 5 40 83
Standard fluorescent 4,019 3,308 2,166 1,076 67 710 53 188 469
Compact fluorescent 1,133 975 599 361 Q 158 16 43 99
High-intensity discharge (HID) 238 183 134 49 Q 55 7 16 33
Halogen 552 490 291 196 Q 62 Q 20 35
LED 2,592 2,247 1,526 717 Q 345 24 113 208
Other Q Q Q Q N N N N N
Refrigeration equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Any refrigeration 3,850 3,265 2,240 1,012 Q 585 44 149 393
Walk-in units 706 586 355 230 Q 119 3 42 74
Cases or cabinets 837 735 480 251 Q 102 6 21 76
Large cold storage areas 69 64 40 22 Q 5 Q 1 Q
Commercial ice makers 872 709 492 216 Q 163 5 40 118
Residential-type or compact units 3,321 2,814 1,953 853 Q 507 39 127 341
Vending machines 800 619 384 234 Q 181 18 50 112
No refrigeration 2,068 1,717 1,008 568 140 351 Q 107 218
Office equipment
(more than one may apply)		                  
Desktop computers 3,804 3,107 2,016 1,088 Q 696 55 186 455
With multiple monitors 1,504 1,249 791 458 N 255 20 72 163
Laptop computers 2,786 2,326 1,517 809 N 461 37 112 311
Dedicated servers 1,400 1,118 667 452 N 282 18 60 204
Tablets charged in building 1,556 1,280 773 506 N 277 19 81 177
Large floor-standing office devices2 1,456 1,137 759 378 N 319 22 86 211
Smaller desktop office devices2 3,560 2,991 1,948 1,037 Q 569 50 145 374
Interactive whiteboards 262 122 96 26 N 140 1 40 99
Televisions/video displays 2,451 2,078 1,404 673 N 373 24 101 249
Point-of-sales devices/cash registers 1,420 1,258 729 529 N 161 21 35 105
Food preparation or serving areas
in non-food service buildings
(more than one may apply)		                  
Snack bar/concession stand/coffee shop 144 104 63 40 N 41 Q 14 24
Fast food/small restaurant 160 148 87 61 N 13 Q Q 5
Cafeteria/large restaurant 129 57 45 12 N 72 2 21 49
Commercial kitchen/
food preparation area		 284 229 175 55 Q 55 Q 19 35
Small kitchen area 1,018 860 640 217 Q 157 Q 31 117
Separate computer areas
(more than one may apply)		                  
Server closet 1,237 969 576 392 N 269 14 57 198
Data center 116 74 58 16 N 42 2 13 27
Computer-based training room 228 120 78 42 N 108 8 38 62
Student or public computer center 236 117 63 54 N 119 1 30 88
Window and interior lighting
features (more than one may
apply)		                  
Multipaned windows 3,527 2,977 1,990 905 83 550 48 148 354
Tinted window glass 1,679 1,411 834 528 49 268 20 69 179
Reflective window glass 497 423 240 179 Q 74 Q 12 57
External overhangs or awnings 1,513 1,278 804 448 Q 235 9 60 166
Skylights or atriums 509 431 287 134 Q 78 Q 17 54
Light scheduling 910 749 437 289 Q 161 Q 54 98
Occupancy sensors 1,025 740 465 274 Q 285 13 80 192
Multi-level lighting or dimming 332 275 199 76 Q 57 2 19 37
Daylight harvesting 138 117 73 43 Q 21 2 Q 10
Plug-load control 58 44 33 10 Q 14 Q Q 6
Demand responsive lighting 98 79 58 Q Q 19 Q Q Q
Building automation system (BAS) for lighting 317 210 104 106 Q 107 2 26 80
Electric vehicle (EV) charging                  
Charging stations associated with the building 132 111 73 37 Q 21 Q Q 17
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-871A of the 2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
Notes: Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. The Guide to the 2018 CBECS Tables and CBECS Terminology contain definitions of terms used in these tables and comparisons between previous CBECS tables. You can access both references from http://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2018/.
Data are sample survey estimates with RSEs published in a tab on the Excel worksheet for this table.
aClimate zones are based on ASHRAE Standard 169-2021; see https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/maps.php#defined.
bOther sources includes wood, coal, solar, and all other energy sources.
cOffice devices refers to any combination of printers, copiers, scanners, or FAX machines.
Q = Data withheld either because the relative standard error (RSE) was greater than 50% or fewer than 20 buildings in reporting sample.
N = No buildings in reporting sample.