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 2019, end-use energy consumption by the residential sector and commercial sector was about 21 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu).1 This was equal to 28% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption in 2019. End-use energy consumption includes primary energy consumption and retail electricity sales, but excludes electrical system energy losses. Learn more about U.S. end-use energy consumption in U.S. energy consumption by source and sector, 2019.
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 2019.2
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 2014, energy use in U.S. manufacturing facilities for facility air conditioning, heating, ventilation, lighting, and facility support, was about 0.9 quadrillion Btu, equal to about 3.6% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption in 2014.
1 Monthly Energy Review, Tables 2.2 and 2.3, April 2020; preliminary data for 2019.
2 Monthly Energy Review, Table 2.1, April 2020; preliminary data for 2019.
Learn more:
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
Last updated: February 11, 2021
Other FAQs about General Energy
- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
- Does EIA have forecasts or projections for energy production, consumption, and prices for individual states?
- Does EIA have information on U.S. natural gas and oil pipelines?
- Does EIA publish energy consumption and price data for cities, counties, or by zip code?
- Does EIA publish the location of electric power plants, transmission lines, and substations?
- How do I compare the cost of heating fuels?
- How many smart meters are installed in the United States, and who has them?
- How much does it cost to build different types of power plants in the United States?
- How much electricity is used for cooling in the United States?
- How much energy does a person use in a year?
- How much energy does the world consume by each energy end-use sector?
- How much energy is consumed in U.S. buildings?
- Where can I get help paying my utility bills?
- How much natural gas is consumed in the United States?
- How much of U.S. energy consumption and electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources?
- How much of world energy consumption and production is from renewable energy?
- What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source?
- What is the United States’ share of world energy consumption?
- What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?