WASHINGTON, DC — According to a recent Department of Energy (DOE) report, motors in homes and commercial buildings consume about 8.8 quadrillion Btu of energy annually, more than one-third of all the electricity used in the nation’s buildings.

The report, Opportunities for Energy Savings in the Residential and Commercial Sectors with High-Efficiency Electric Motors, estimates that there are at least 1 billion motors in buildings in major service applications, and at least another billion small motors in applications of low energy significance.

Although trends for increased comfort, convenience, and health will increase the number of motors in use, the report notes that more than 2 quadrillion Btu can be saved by using more efficient motors and variable-speed drives.