How much energy is consumed in U.S. residential and commercial buildings?
In 2018, the residential and commercial sectors accounted for about 40% (or about 40 quadrillion British thermal units) of total U.S. energy consumption.
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 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 data from energy consumption surveys, conducted in specific years, of energy consumption in homes, commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities. However, these survey data do not represent total energy consumption for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors for those years.
Learn more:
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS)
Last updated: May 14, 2019
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