ShareHeating and air conditioning no longer the major part of US home energy use
Estimates from RECS, recently published by the US Energy Information Administration, show that 48% of energy consumption in US homes in 2009 was for heating and air conditioning, down from 58% in 1993.
For decades, in the USA, space heating and air conditioning accounted for over half of all residential energy consumption. Estimates from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), based on a sample of 12 000 homes, recently published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), show that 48% of energy consumption in US homes in 2009 was for heating and air conditioning, down from 58% in 1993.
Factors underpinning this trend are increased adoption of more efficient equipment, better insulation, more efficient windows and population shifts to warmer climates.
RECS data show that, in 2009, space heating accounted for 41.5% of energy use, followed by water heating (17.7%). Air conditioning accounted for 6.2% and refrigerators for 4.8%.
Other RECS data show that, in 2009, air conditioning was installed in nearly 100 million US homes, which represents 87% of US households (compared with 68% in 1993).
Factors underpinning this trend are increased adoption of more efficient equipment, better insulation, more efficient windows and population shifts to warmer climates.
RECS data show that, in 2009, space heating accounted for 41.5% of energy use, followed by water heating (17.7%). Air conditioning accounted for 6.2% and refrigerators for 4.8%.
Other RECS data show that, in 2009, air conditioning was installed in nearly 100 million US homes, which represents 87% of US households (compared with 68% in 1993).