‹ BACK TO ALL 2015 RECS TABLES
Release date: October 2017
Revised date: May 2018
Number of housing units (million) | |||||||
Households reporting… | |||||||
Total U.S.2 | Any household energy insecurity3 | Reducing or forgoing food or medicine to pay energy costs | Leaving home at unhealthy temperature | Receiving disconnect or delivery stop notice | Unable to use heating equipment4 | Unable to use cooling equipment5 | |
All homes | 118.2 | 37.0 | 25.3 | 12.8 | 17.2 | 6.1 | 6.9 |
Census region and division | |||||||
Northeast | 21.0 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 |
New England | 5.6 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Middle Atlantic | 15.4 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
Midwest | 26.4 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
East North Central | 18.1 | 5.5 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
West North Central | 8.3 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
South | 44.4 | 15.4 | 10.8 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 3.9 |
South Atlantic | 23.5 | 7.6 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
East South Central | 7.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
West South Central | 13.8 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
West | 26.4 | 8.1 | 5.5 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
Mountain | 8.5 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
Mountain North | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Mountain South | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | Q | 0.2 |
Pacific | 17.9 | 6.0 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
Census urban/rural classification6 | |||||||
Urban | 94.7 | 30.1 | 20.6 | 10.5 | 13.6 | 4.7 | 5.3 |
Urbanized area | 82.2 | 25.9 | 17.6 | 9.0 | 11.9 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
Urban cluster | 12.5 | 4.1 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
Rural | 23.5 | 6.9 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
Metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area | |||||||
In metropolitan statistical area | 98.5 | 29.9 | 20.5 | 10.2 | 13.8 | 4.5 | 5.1 |
In micropolitan statistical area | 12.3 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
Not in metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area | 7.4 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
Climate region7 | |||||||
Very cold/Cold | 42.5 | 12.4 | 8.8 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
Mixed-humid | 33.5 | 10.5 | 7.0 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Mixed-dry/Hot-dry | 12.7 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
Hot-humid | 22.8 | 8.0 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 |
Marine | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
Housing unit type | |||||||
Single-family detached | 73.9 | 20.0 | 13.4 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 3.2 | 3.9 |
Single-family attached | 7.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
Apartments in buildings with 2-4 units | 9.4 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 |
Apartments in buildings with 5 or more units | 21.1 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
Mobile homes | 6.8 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Year of construction | |||||||
Before 1950 | 20.8 | 7.6 | 5.3 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 |
1950 to 1959 | 12.6 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
1960 to 1969 | 12.8 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
1970 to 1979 | 18.3 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 |
1980 to 1989 | 16.0 | 4.9 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
1990 to 1999 | 16.8 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 |
2000 to 2009 | 17.0 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
2010 to 2015 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Main space heating fuel | |||||||
Natural gas | 57.7 | 16.4 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 2.8 |
Electricity | 40.9 | 14.2 | 10.2 | 4.9 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 2.9 |
Fuel oil/kerosene | 5.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Propane | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Wood | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | Q |
Do not use heating equipment | 5.1 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
Air-conditioning equipment | |||||||
Use air-conditioning equipment | 102.8 | 30.7 | 21.2 | 10.3 | 14.6 | 4.8 | 5.8 |
Do not use air-conditioning equipment | 15.4 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
Type of air-conditioning equipment used (more than one may apply) | |||||||
Use central air-conditioning equipment | 76.1 | 19.7 | 13.2 | 5.9 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 4.0 |
Use individual air-conditioning units | 32.1 | 12.8 | 9.1 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
Do not use air-conditioning equipment | 15.4 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
Adequacy of insulation | |||||||
Well insulated | 37.5 | 8.6 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
Adequately insulated | 57.9 | 17.2 | 11.3 | 5.2 | 7.7 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
Poorly insulated | 20.9 | 10.2 | 7.6 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
No insulation | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
Type of glass in windows | |||||||
Single-pane glass | 48.7 | 19.2 | 13.4 | 7.2 | 9.1 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
Double-pane glass | 68.3 | 17.5 | 11.7 | 5.6 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
Triple-pane glass | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | Q | Q | Q | Q |
Number of household members | |||||||
1 member | 28.7 | 8.4 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
2 members | 42.7 | 10.2 | 7.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 2.0 |
3 members | 19.4 | 6.9 | 4.9 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 |
4 members | 15.5 | 6.0 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
5 members | 7.2 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
6 or more members | 4.6 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
2015 annual household income | |||||||
Less than $20,000 | 22.9 | 11.4 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
$20,000 to $39,999 | 27.3 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
$40,000 to $59,999 | 18.4 | 6.3 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
$60,000 to $79,999 | 15.2 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
$80,000 to $99,999 | 9.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
$100,000 to $119,999 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
$120,000 to $139,999 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | Q | Q |
$140,000 or more | 11.2 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Payment method for energy bills | |||||||
All paid by household | 105.8 | 33.7 | 23.0 | 11.2 | 16.3 | 5.4 | 6.3 |
Some paid by household, some included in rent or condo fee | 6.1 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
All included in rent or condo fee | 5.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | Q | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Some other method | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | Q | Q | 0.1 |
Householder 60 or older8 | |||||||
Yes | 39.0 | 7.9 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
No | 76.7 | 28.3 | 19.7 | 9.2 | 14.3 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
Children under 18 in household | |||||||
Yes | 37.7 | 15.6 | 10.9 | 4.4 | 8.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
No | 80.5 | 21.4 | 14.5 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 3.4 | 4.0 |
Ethnicity of householder8 | |||||||
Hispanic or Latino | 15.0 | 6.8 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 |
Not Hispanic or Latino | 103.2 | 30.2 | 20.6 | 10.3 | 14.4 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
Race of householder8,9 | |||||||
White | 95.4 | 26.8 | 18.2 | 9.6 | 12.0 | 4.2 | 4.9 |
Hispanic or Latino | 13.8 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.2 |
Not Hispanic or Latino | 81.6 | 20.7 | 14.0 | 7.3 | 9.5 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
Black or African American | 13.6 | 7.1 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
Hispanic or Latino | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | Q | Q | Q | Q |
Not Hispanic or Latino | 13.1 | 6.8 | 4.7 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 |
Asian | 4.9 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
American Indian or Alaska Native | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.5 | Q | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0.4 | 0.3 | Q | Q | Q | Q | Q |
More than one race | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
Ownership of housing unit10 | |||||||
Owned | 74.5 | 18.0 | 11.6 | 6.0 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 3.8 |
Rented | 43.7 | 19.0 | 13.7 | 6.8 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 3.0 |
1Housing characteristics data were collected between August 2015 and April 2016. 2Total U.S. includes all primary occupied housing units in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Vacant housing units, seasonal units, second homes, military houses, and group quarters are excluded. 3Household energy insecurity as defined in this table includes only those issues collected as part of the RECS questionnaire. Other factors, such as energy costs as a percentage of household income, could be considered as household energy insecurity, but are not included here. Respondents may report more than one energy insecurity issue. 4Includes inability to use main heating equipment because equipment was broken and household could not have it repaired; or electricity, natural gas, or bulk fuel disruption due to lack of payment. 5Includes inability to use air-conditoning equipment because equipment was broken and household could not have it repaired or electricity disruption due to lack of payment. 6Housing units are classified using criteria created by the U.S. Census Bureau based on 2010 Census data. Urbanized areas are densely settled groupings of blocks or tracts with 50,000 or more people, while urban clusters have at least 2,500 but less than 50,000 people. All other areas are rural. 7These 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). 8A householder is a person in whose name the home is owned or rented. These characteristics refer to the householder that completed the RECS questionnaire. 9Householders were permitted to select more than one racial category to describe themselves. These householders are only included as More than one race. 10Rented includes households that occupy their primary housing units without paying rent. Q = Data withheld because either the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50% or fewer than 10 cases responded. Notes: Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. See RECS Terminology for definition of terms used in these tables. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Forms EIA-457A and EIA-457C of the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey. |