Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)

Overview
Data

Analysis & Projections

Heating and cooling no longer majority of U.S. home energy use

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Residential Energy Consumption Survey.
Note: Amounts represent the energy consumption in occupied primary housing units.
State fact sheets on household energy use

Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey 2009.
Newer U.S. homes are 30% larger but consume about as much energy as old

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey
Watch a video about changes in home heating ›

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, video - Keeping Our Homes Warm, released November 2, 2012.
Energy consumption per home has steadily declined over the last three decades

Source: Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Includes occupied primary housing units only.

Methodology

An Assessment of Interval Data and Their Potential Application to Residential Electricity End-Use Modeling

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is investigating the potential benefits of incorporating interval electricity data into its residential energy end use models.

How does EIA estimate energy consumption and end uses in U.S. homes?

EIA administers the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) to a nationally representative sample of housing units. Specially trained interviewers collect energy characteristics on the housing unit, usage patterns, and household demographics.

End-use model methodology FAQs

An overview of questions on how end-use models and equations disaggregate household total fuel consumption.

Where does RECS square footage data come from?

The size of a home is a fixed characteristic strongly associated with the amount of energy consumed within it, particularly for space heating, air conditioning, lighting, and other appliances.

An Assessment of EIA's Building Consumption Data

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) routinely uses feedback from customers and outside experts to help improve its programs and products.

Features

Heating and cooling no longer majority of U.S. home energy use

Release Date: March 7, 2013

For decades, space heating and cooling (space conditioning) accounted for more than half of all residential energy consumption. Estimates from the most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), show that 48% of energy consumption in U.S. homes in 2009 was for heating and cooling, down from 58% in 1993.

Newer U.S. homes are 30% larger but consume about as much energy as old

Release Date: February 12, 2013

Analysis from EIA's most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) shows that U.S. homes built in 2000 and later consume only 2% more energy on average than homes built prior to 2000, despite being on average 30% larger.

RECS data show decreased energy consumption per household

Release Date: June 6, 2012

Total United States energy consumption in homes has remained relatively stable for many years as increased energy efficiency has offset the increase in the number and average size of housing units, according to the from the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS).

The impact of increasing home size on energy demand

Release Date: April 19, 2012

Homes built since 1990 are on average 27% larger than homes built in earlier decades, a significant trend because most energy end-uses are correlated with the size of the home.

Did you know that air conditioning is in nearly 100 million U.S. homes?

Release Date: August 19, 2011

The latest results from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) show that 87 percent of U.S. households are now equipped with AC. This growth occurred among all housing types and in every Census region. Wider use has coincided with much improved energy efficiency standards for AC equipment, a population shift to hotter and more humid regions, and a housing boom during which average housing sizes increased.