Within the residential

Table 1

sector, most of the energy

U.S. Residential Primary Energy

consumed is for space heating

Consumption by Building Type, 200

1

% Total

% Total

% Total

% Total 

(30 percent) and air condition 

Units

Owned

Rented

Btu 

(2001)

(2001)

(2001)

(1997)

ing (11 percent); both of these

Single family detached

59.0

52.1

6.9

73.4

uses are geared to maintaining

Single family attached

9.9

7.0

2.9

9.2

occupant comfort in response

Building of 2 4 units

8.9

2.0

6.9

5.0

to climatic conditions. An addi 

Building of 5 or more units

15.9

1.7

14.2

7.5

tional 12 percent is used for

Mobile home

6.3

5.3

1.0

4.9

water heating, and a further 

12 percent is for lighting. 

Total

100

68.0

32.0

100

The remainder of the energy

Sources: Energy Information Administration. 2004. 2001 Residential Energy Consumption

Survey: Housing Characteristics Tables, EIA, Washington, DC. Table HC1 2a. Energy

Information Administration. 2000,  1997 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, EIA,

consumed in homes goes for

Washington, DC. table 2.1.2, 1.2.6.

appliances, electronics, and

other purposes.

In the commercial sector, a great deal of energy is used for lighting (21 percent) and office equip 

+

ment (8 percent). Air conditioning (9 percent) requires almost as much energy as space heating (12 percent),

Table 2

caused in part by the need to offset the

heat generated by lighting and other

U.S. Commercial Primary Energy Use

by Building Type, 1999

electric equipment. The remainder of

Percent of Total

Percent of Total Energy

energy use in commercial buildings is 

Building Type

Square Footage

Consumption

for water heating, refrigeration, and 

Office

22

21

other purposes.

Retail Sales and Services

15

14

Education

10

12

In the residential sector, 

+

59 percent of all housing units are

Health Care

8

10

single family detached homes (Table 1).

Warehouse and Storage

8

9

These units account for 73 percent of

Food Services

7

8

residential energy consumption. Single 

Lodging

7

8

family attached units represent the

Sources: Energy Information Administration, 2002. 1999 Commercial Buildings

Energy Consumption Survey: Consumption and Expenditures Tables, p. 124, table C1.

second largest building type in terms

10

EIA, Washington, DC. 

+

Towards a Climate Friendly  

Built Environment