Consumption & Efficiency
Energy In Brief
How can we compare or add up our energy consumption?
To compare or aggregate energy consumption across different energy sources like oil, natural gas, and electricity, we must use a common unit of measure. This is similar to calculating your food energy intake by adding up the calories in whatever you eat.
Energy Explained
How We Use Energy
The United States is a highly developed and industrialized society. We use a lot of energy in our homes, in businesses, in industry, and for personal travel and transporting goods.
Features
Energy Intensity Trends
Annual Energy Outlook 2012 (Early Release Overview)
Released January 23, 2012| Next Release: April 2012
This report includes projections for U.S. energy intensity through 2035, and related analysis of energy conservation and energy efficiency.
Appliance and consumer electronic use nearly doubles in U.S. homes
Release Date: March 28, 2011
Over the past thirty years, the share of electricity used by appliances and electronics in U.S. homes has nearly doubled from 17% to 31%, growing from 1.77 quadrillion Btu (quads) to 3.25 quads. This rise has occurred while household consumption actually decreased from 10.58 quads to 10.55 quads and stringent Federal energy use standards were enacted on every major appliance.
Lighting in Commercial Buildings
Released April 2009
Lighting is a major consumer of electricity in commercial buildings and a target for energy savings through use of energy-efficient light sources along with other advanced lighting technologies.
Energy Use in Manufacturing
Released August 2006
Energy Use in Manufacturing provides information related to energy consumption changes within the U.S. manufacturing sector between 1998 and 2002. This report addresses both manufacturing energy consumption and characteristics of the manufacturing economy related to energy consumption. In addition, special sections on fuel switching capacity and energy-management activities between 1998 and 2002 are also featured in this report.
End-use consumption
data & surveys
Residential Energy Consumption (RECS)
Commercial Building Energy Consumption (CBECS)
Sector totals:
Consumption and efficiency
analysis & projections
Annual Energy Outlook 2011:
