How much energy is consumed in U.S. buildings?
Energy consumption by the U.S. residential sector and the commercial sector represents the majority of energy consumption in or on all U.S. buildings.
In 2021, the combined end-use energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors was about 21 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu).1 This was equal to about 28% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption in 2021. End-use energy consumption includes primary energy consumption and retail electricity sales, but excludes electrical system energy losses.
Total energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors includes end-use consumption and electrical system energy losses associated with retail electricity sales to the sectors. When electrical system energy losses are included, the residential and commercial sectors accounted for about 21% and 18% respectively—39% combined—of total U.S. energy consumption in 2021.2 See a diagram of U.S. primary energy consumption and energy end use in U.S. energy consumption by source and sector.
The U.S. Energy Administration (EIA) collects detailed end-use energy consumption data for selected years in residential buildings, commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities with energy consumption surveys (see links below). In the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey 2018, energy use in U.S. manufacturing facilities for facility air conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting, and facility support, was about 0.5 quadrillion Btu, equal to about 2% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption in 2018.
1 Monthly Energy Review, Tables 2.2 and 2.3, April 2022, preliminary data for 2021.
2 Monthly Energy Review, Table 2.1, April 2022, preliminary data for 2021.
Learn more:
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
Last updated: May 12, 2022, with most recent data available at the time of update.
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