Frequently Asked Questions
How much energy is consumed in U.S. residential and commercial buildings?
In 2016, about 40% (or about 39 quadrillion British thermal units) of total U.S. energy consumption was consumed by the residential and commercial sectors.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes estimates for monthly and annual energy consumption by the residential sector and the commercial sector, which is mostly building related. These sectors account for nearly all of the energy consumption in U.S. buildings.
Energy consumption by the commercial sector also includes energy consumption for street and other outdoor lighting, and for water and sewage treatment. However, these energy uses are relatively small contributors to the commercial sector's total energy consumption.
EIA publishes detailed estimates for energy consumption in specific years in residential and commercial buildings. EIA also publishes estimates for heating, ventilation, cooling, and lighting in manufacturing facilities in specific years. However, these data do not represent total energy consumption for the residential sector, the commercial sector, and the industrial sector for those years.
Learn more:
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
Last updated: May 10, 2017
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