Following are popular data points and sources frequently requested from the U.S. Department of Energy when planning, evaluating, or marketing residential energy efficiency programs.
National Residential Energy Facts
- The residential sector accounts for about 21% of total U.S. energy consumption.
Calculations based on data from: Annual Energy Outlook 2020, Table A2: Energy Consumption by Sector and Source.
- There are 120.92 million households in the U.S., as of 2019. Almost 70% of homes - 83 million were single-family in 2019
Calculations based on data from Annual Energy Outlook 2020, Table A4: Residential Sector Key Indicators and Consumption.
- Approximately 20.8 million homes were constructed between 2000 and 2015, about 18% of all households in the United States through 2015.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2015, Table HC2.3: Structural and geographic characteristics by year of construction, U.S. Department of Energy, 2012.
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The average U.S. household used about 77 million British thermal units (Btu) in 2015, or nearly 50% more energy than the average car in a year. Homes built since 2000 consumed the same amount of energy as one built in the 1960s, while being on average 27% larger.
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Of the energy used in U.S. homes in 2015, 55% of it was used for heating and cooling. Water heating, appliances, electronics, and lighting accounted for the remaining 45% of total consumption.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey, 2015. Table CE3.1 and HC10.9
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In 2019, the average household used energy that released an estimated 17,320 lbs. of CO2. To put this number in perspective, on an annual basis the average household is responsible for releasing 70% more CO2 emissions compared to the average passenger vehicle.
Calculations based on data from: Annual Energy Outlook 2020, Table A2
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In 2012, the average U.S. household spent $1,945 on heating, cooling, appliances, electronics, and lighting.
Source: “Lower residential energy use reduces home energy expenditures as share of household income,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2013.
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Approximately 72% of U.S. households reported an average age for home heating systems of 5 years or more in 2015. About 29% of households report home heating equipment older than 15 years.
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Of the 102.8 million households that have cooling equipment, 76.1 million have central A/C, and 33.7 million of those units are at least 10 years old.
Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2015, Table HC6.1 and Table HC7.3
Consumer Home Energy Upgrade Facts
- Consumers can save 5-30% on their home energy bills by making home energy upgrades typically identified in a home energy assessment.
- The typical cost of a diagnostic home energy assessment is $300-500, depending on the local environment and home performance market conditions.
Source: #AskEnergySaver: Home Energy Audit, U.S. Department of Energy, 2014.
- Households can save as much as 5-15% a year on their heating and cooling bills by simply turning their thermostat back 10⁰ to 15⁰ for 8 hours a day.
Source: Energy Saver, Thermostats, U.S. Department of Energy, 2013.
- Other easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy on heating and cooling:
- clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended
- clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed and make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes
- place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators
- during the winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night
- during the summer, keep your window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.
Source: Energy Savers Guide, U.S. Department of Energy, 2011.
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Increasing a home’s insulation and reducing air leaks is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste. Proper insulation and air sealing techniques can typically achieve whole-house energy savings of 10-20% over pre-upgrade energy usage. In older homes and homes with little or no insulation, savings may be much higher.
Source: “Energy Renovations: Insulation, A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners,” Building America Best Practices Series, Vol. 17, U.S. Department of Energy, 2012.
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Upgrading a home’s heating and cooling equipment can reduce energy use by up to 20% or more, depending on the condition of the existing systems. Similar savings may be realized by improving the distribution efficiency of the heating and cooling systems.
Source: “Energy Renovations: HVAC, A Guide for Contractors to Share with Homeowners,” Building America Best Practices Series, Vol. 14, U.S. Department of Energy, 2011.
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By combining proper equipment upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, homeowners can save about 30% on their energy bill.
Source: Energy Savers Guide, U.S. Department of Energy, 2011.
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An estimated 10-25% of an average household heating and cooling bill escapes through leaks associated with windows. By installing exterior or interior storm windows with weatherstripping, homeowners can reduce heat lost through the windows by 25-50%.
Source: Energy Savers Guide, U.S. Department of Energy, 2011.
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Installing a low-emissivity (low-e) storm window over a low performing window can reduce a home’s heating and cooling costs by 10–35% annually.
Source: “Performance Validation of Low-e Storm Windows Paves Way for Market Acceptance,” U.S. Department of Energy, 2015.
Looking for more Residential Energy Data?
Explore the following sources:
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Administered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) every five years, the RECS is a national survey of residential housing units. Interviewers collect energy characteristics on each housing unit participating in the sample, including usage patterns, household demographics, and household characteristics. The latest RECS is based on data collected in 2009 and includes multiple state profiles.
EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2016
Projections in the Annual Energy Outlook 2016 reference case focus on the factors that will shape U.S. energy markets through 2040, under the assumption that current laws and regulations remain generally unchanged throughout the projection period. The early release provides a basis for examining and discussing energy market trends.
Administered by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), this tool provides energy market information that can help state and local governments plan and implement clean energy projects, including: city electricity, natural gas, and fuel use estimates; electricity generation; fuel sources and costs; applicable policies, regulations, and financial incentives; and renewable energy resource potential. Search by Zip Code or City to get summary reports or use the Toolbox to browse community energy actions.
Buildings Energy Databook
The 2011 Buildings Energy Databook includes statistics on residential and commercial building energy consumption. Tables contain data related to construction, building technologies, energy consumption, and building characteristics. The Building Technologies Office within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy developed this resource to provide a current and accurate set of comprehensive buildings- and energy-related data.
DOE Energy Savers Guide
The Energy Savers Guide informs homeowners on ways to cut energy use in their homes with easy, practical solutions. These solutions include upgrades to a home, using home appliances and other equipment more efficiently, and more.
American Housing Survey (AHS)
The AHS is sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The survey is the most comprehensive national housing survey in the United States.