Jan. 28, 2013: HVAC Drops Below 50 Percent of U.S. Average Household Energy Consumption
WASHINGTON — For decades, heating and air conditioning accounted for over half of all residential energy consumption in the United States. However, new estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) show that 48 percent of energy consumption in American homes during 2009 was used for heating and cooling, down from 58 percent in 1993.
According to the EIA, the lower energy consumption is attributable in part to more efficient heating and cooling equipment, building practices that have resulted in better insulation and more efficient windows, and population shifts to areas with warmer climates.