U.S. Energy Information Administration logo
Skip to sub-navigation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

This page has no sub-navigation. Skip to page content.

How is electricity used in U.S. homes?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes projections for U.S. residential sector electricity consumption by type of major end use in the Annual Energy Outlook1.

U.S. residential sector electricity consumption by major end uses in 20221
End useBillion kilowatthoursShare of total
Space cooling25016%
Space heating21914%
Water heating17611%
Refrigeration87
6%
Lighting674%
Clothes dryers654%
Televisions and related equipment254
4%
Computers and related equipment3
352%
Furnace fans and boiler circulation pumps26
2%
Freezers20
1%
Cooking
161%
Clothes washers4111%
Dishwashers48
1%
Other uses550733%
Total consumption1,542
1 Annual Energy Outlook, Reference case, Table 4: Residential sector key indicators and consumption.
2 Includes televisions, set-top boxes, home theater systems, DVD players, and video game consoles.
3 Includes desktop and laptop computers, monitors, and networking equipment.
4 Does not include water heating.
5 Includes small electric devices, heating elements, exterior lights, outdoor grills, pool and spa heaters, backup electricity generators, and motors not listed above. Does not include electric vehicle charging.

EIA conducts the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). The RECS includes detailed data on the types of electrical devices (appliances, electronics, and lighting) in U.S. households and electricity consumption by type of end use.

Learn more:
Energy Explained: Energy use in homes

Last updated: March 28, 2023


Other FAQs about Electricity