FAQ Brochure PANELS

FREQUENTLY
 ASKED
 QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial
buildings in the United States. The information that you
provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop
energy policies and programs that promote energy efficiency.

Who will be conducting the interview?
This study is being conducted for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

How long will the interview take?
The interview generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not
residential, industrial, or agricultural. This definition includes
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious
commercial uses such as retail stores and offices.
What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
heating, lighting, refrigeration, and office equipment, and the
amount of energy used in the building.

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

Will identifiable information about our building
be given to anyone else?
No. The data you give us will remain strictly confidential as
mandated by the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Criminal penalties, including
fines and jail, apply to anyone who divulges any information
about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.
The summary data will be used only for statistical purposes.
Where can I find more information about
this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

Conducted by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

Sponsored by

AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective: 
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Commercial buildings in the United States contain more
square feet of floorspace than the land area in the state
of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

Fuel Oil
3%

Natural Gas
32%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS

The largest buildings (those larger than 500,000 square
feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.

Electricity
55%

Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
Offices are the most common building type, followed
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the
most energy per square foot of floorspace.
The largest use of energy in commercial buildings is for
space heating, followed by lighting.
Standard fluorescent lamps illuminate a majority of the
lit floorspace in buildings, but the use of energy-efficient
types such as compact fluorescent is increasing.

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)
Food Service

258.3

Inpatient Health Care

249.2

Food Sales

199.7

Other

164.4

Public Order and Safety

115.8

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Percent of Total Energy Use
by End Use

102.2

Lodging

100.0

Outpatient Health Care

94.6

Space Heating

Public Assembly

93.9

Lighting

Office

92.9

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91.0

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Education

83.1

Service

77.0

Retail (Other Than Mall)

73.9

9

7

Refrigeration

45.2

Cooking

Religious Worship

43.5

Computers

20.9

21

Ventilation

Warehouse and Storage

Vacant

36

Office Equipment

6
3
2
1

AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective: 
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Commercial buildings in the United States contain more
square feet of floorspace than the land area in the state
of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

Fuel Oil
3%

Natural Gas
32%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS

The largest buildings (those larger than 500,000 square
feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.

Electricity
55%

Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
Offices are the most common building type, followed
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the
most energy per square foot of floorspace.
The largest use of energy in commercial buildings is for
space heating, followed by lighting.
Standard fluorescent lamps illuminate a majority of the
lit floorspace in buildings, but the use of energy-efficient
types such as compact fluorescent is increasing.

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)
Food Service

258.3

Inpatient Health Care

249.2

Food Sales

199.7

Other

164.4

Public Order and Safety

115.8

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Percent of Total Energy Use
by End Use

102.2

Lodging

100.0

Outpatient Health Care

94.6

Space Heating

Public Assembly

93.9

Lighting

Office

92.9

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91.0

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Education

83.1

Service

77.0

Retail (Other Than Mall)

73.9

9

7

Refrigeration

45.2

Cooking

Religious Worship

43.5

Computers

20.9

21

Ventilation

Warehouse and Storage

Vacant

36

Office Equipment

6
3
2
1

AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective: 
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Commercial buildings in the United States contain more
square feet of floorspace than the land area in the state
of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

Fuel Oil
3%

Natural Gas
32%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS

The largest buildings (those larger than 500,000 square
feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.

Electricity
55%

Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
Offices are the most common building type, followed
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the
most energy per square foot of floorspace.
The largest use of energy in commercial buildings is for
space heating, followed by lighting.
Standard fluorescent lamps illuminate a majority of the
lit floorspace in buildings, but the use of energy-efficient
types such as compact fluorescent is increasing.

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)
Food Service

258.3

Inpatient Health Care

249.2

Food Sales

199.7

Other

164.4

Public Order and Safety

115.8

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Percent of Total Energy Use
by End Use

102.2

Lodging

100.0

Outpatient Health Care

94.6

Space Heating

Public Assembly

93.9

Lighting

Office

92.9

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91.0

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Education

83.1

Service

77.0

Retail (Other Than Mall)

73.9

9

7

Refrigeration

45.2

Cooking

Religious Worship

43.5

Computers

20.9

21

Ventilation

Warehouse and Storage

Vacant

36

Office Equipment

6
3
2
1

AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective: 
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Commercial buildings in the United States contain more
square feet of floorspace than the land area in the state
of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

Fuel Oil
3%

Natural Gas
32%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS

The largest buildings (those larger than 500,000 square
feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.

Electricity
55%

Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
Offices are the most common building type, followed
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the
most energy per square foot of floorspace.
The largest use of energy in commercial buildings is for
space heating, followed by lighting.
Standard fluorescent lamps illuminate a majority of the
lit floorspace in buildings, but the use of energy-efficient
types such as compact fluorescent is increasing.

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)
Food Service

258.3

Inpatient Health Care

249.2

Food Sales

199.7

Other

164.4

Public Order and Safety

115.8

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Percent of Total Energy Use
by End Use

102.2

Lodging

100.0

Outpatient Health Care

94.6

Space Heating

Public Assembly

93.9

Lighting

Office

92.9

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91.0

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Education

83.1

Service

77.0

Retail (Other Than Mall)

73.9

9

7

Refrigeration

45.2

Cooking

Religious Worship

43.5

Computers

20.9

21

Ventilation

Warehouse and Storage

Vacant

36

Office Equipment

6
3
2
1

FREQUENTLY
 ASKED
 QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial
buildings in the United States. The information that you
provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop
energy policies and programs that promote energy efficiency.

Who will be conducting the interview?
This study is being conducted for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

How long will the interview take?
The interview generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not
residential, industrial, or agricultural. This definition includes
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious
commercial uses such as retail stores and offices.
What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
heating, lighting, refrigeration, and office equipment, and the
amount of energy used in the building.

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

Will identifiable information about our building
be given to anyone else?
No. The data you give us will remain strictly confidential as
mandated by the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Criminal penalties, including
fines and jail, apply to anyone who divulges any information
about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.
The summary data will be used only for statistical purposes.
Where can I find more information about
this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

Conducted by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

Sponsored by

FREQUENTLY
 ASKED
 QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial
buildings in the United States. The information that you
provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop
energy policies and programs that promote energy efficiency.

Who will be conducting the interview?
This study is being conducted for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

How long will the interview take?
The interview generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not
residential, industrial, or agricultural. This definition includes
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious
commercial uses such as retail stores and offices.
What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
heating, lighting, refrigeration, and office equipment, and the
amount of energy used in the building.

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

Will identifiable information about our building
be given to anyone else?
No. The data you give us will remain strictly confidential as
mandated by the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Criminal penalties, including
fines and jail, apply to anyone who divulges any information
about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.
The summary data will be used only for statistical purposes.
Where can I find more information about
this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

Conducted by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

Sponsored by

FREQUENTLY
 ASKED
 QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial
buildings in the United States. The information that you
provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop
energy policies and programs that promote energy efficiency.

Who will be conducting the interview?
This study is being conducted for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

How long will the interview take?
The interview generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not
residential, industrial, or agricultural. This definition includes
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious
commercial uses such as retail stores and offices.
What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
heating, lighting, refrigeration, and office equipment, and the
amount of energy used in the building.

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

Will identifiable information about our building
be given to anyone else?
No. The data you give us will remain strictly confidential as
mandated by the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Criminal penalties, including
fines and jail, apply to anyone who divulges any information
about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.
The summary data will be used only for statistical purposes.
Where can I find more information about
this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

Conducted by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

Sponsored by

FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial

Who will be conducting the interview?

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

6

Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop

7

Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious

8

be given to anyone else?

How long will the interview take?

about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.

1

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
amount of energy used in the building.

Conducted by

Sponsored by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

5

1

7
3
AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective:
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Fuel Oil
3%

2

Natural Gas
32%

Electricity
55%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS
Commercial buildings in the United States contain more

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)

of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

3

feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.
Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the

Food Service

258

Inpatient Health Care

249

4

Food Sales

200

Other

164

Public Order and Safety

116

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Lodging

100

Outpatient Health Care

95

Space Heating

Public Assembly

94

Lighting

93

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91

Education

83

Service

77

Retail (Other Than Mall)

space heating, followed by lighting.

74

Warehouse and Storage
Religious Worship
Vacant

21

5

Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

102

21

9

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Ventilation

7

Refrigeration

45

Cooking

44

Computers

6
3
2
1

36

FREQUENTLY
 ASKED
 QUESTIONS

Want more information about CBECS?
Go to www.CBECSinfo.org

...about the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)
What is this survey about?
It collects information about the energy-related characteristics
of commercial buildings in the United States and measures
how much electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and/or district heat
is used within them.

Why is this survey so important?
CBECS is the only source of data about all commercial
buildings in the United States. The information that you
provide will help policy-makers and researchers develop
energy policies and programs that promote energy efficiency.

Who will be conducting the interview?
This study is being conducted for the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), which is the independent statistical
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A
representative of Westat, which is DOE’s contractor for this
study, will visit your building soon.

Who uses the data that are collected?
Building owners and managers use the summary data to
compare their own energy-related information with other
similar buildings; energy modelers and forecasters use it to
assess current energy use and forecast future energy patterns;
developers of new energy technologies and other products
use it to gauge market potential; and agencies of the federal
government, including Congress, as well as state and local
governments use it to formulate energy policies.

How long will the interview take?
The interview generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Is my building really “commercial”?
In the CBECS, “commercial” refers to all buildings in which
at least half of the floorspace is used for a purpose that is not
residential, industrial, or agricultural. This definition includes
building types that might not traditionally be considered
“commercial,” such as schools, correctional institutions,
and buildings used for religious worship, as well as obvious
commercial uses such as retail stores and offices.
What information will I be asked to provide?
You will be asked to provide information about some general
structural characteristics of the building, ownership and
occupancy, any energy sources used and what they are used
for, energy-related equipment such as heating, cooling, water
heating, lighting, refrigeration, and office equipment, and the
amount of energy used in the building.

ABOUT
THE
SURVEY

Will identifiable information about our building
be given to anyone else?
No. The data you give us will remain strictly confidential as
mandated by the Confidential Information Protection and
Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002. Criminal penalties, including
fines and jail, apply to anyone who divulges any information
about the identity of your building to an unauthorized person.
The summary data will be used only for statistical purposes.
Where can I find more information about
this survey?
You can learn more about EIA and the CBECS at
www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial.

37209.0113.8841020301

Why us? Why not interview some other building?
Your building was statistically selected to represent up to a
thousand other buildings similar to yours. For the results to be
valid, another building cannot be substituted for yours.

Conducted by

Westat
1700 Research Boulevard
RB 2240F
Rockville, MD 20850-3156
888-528-3906

Sponsored by

AT A
GLANCE

Commercial Buildings in Perspective: 
Percent of Total Energy Use
by Energy Source

District Steam
and Hot Water
10%

Commercial buildings in the United States contain more
square feet of floorspace than the land area in the state
of Delaware.
Commercial buildings are typically fairly small, less than
15,000 square feet on average. Only about 5 percent
are larger than 50,000 square feet (the size of a large
supermarket).

Fuel Oil
3%

Natural Gas
32%

Facts and Figures from the CBECS

The largest buildings (those larger than 500,000 square
feet) constitute less than half a percent of all commercial
buildings, but consume nearly 15 percent of the total
energy consumed by all commercial buildings.

Electricity
55%

Over half of the total energy used in commercial
buildings is electricity. Total energy includes electricity,
natural gas, fuel oil, district steam, and district hot water.
Offices are the most common building type, followed
closely by retail stores and malls, service buildings,
and warehouse and storage buildings. Together, these
four types of buildings comprise over half the stock of
commercial buildings.
Food service and inpatient health care buildings are the
most intensive users of energy, meaning that they use the
most energy per square foot of floorspace.
The largest use of energy in commercial buildings is for
space heating, followed by lighting.
Standard fluorescent lamps illuminate a majority of the
lit floorspace in buildings, but the use of energy-efficient
types such as compact fluorescent is increasing.

Total Energy Use per Square Foot per Year
by Building Activity (thousand Btu)
Food Service

258.3

Inpatient Health Care

249.2

Food Sales

199.7

Other

164.4

Public Order and Safety

115.8

Enclosed and Strip Malls

Percent of Total Energy Use
by End Use

102.2

Lodging

100.0

Outpatient Health Care

94.6

Space Heating

Public Assembly

93.9

Lighting

Office

92.9

Other

Average for All Commercial Bldgs

91.0

Cooling

8

Water Heating

8

Education

83.1

Service

77.0

Retail (Other Than Mall)

73.9

9

7

Refrigeration

45.2

Cooking

Religious Worship

43.5

Computers

20.9

21

Ventilation

Warehouse and Storage

Vacant

36

Office Equipment

6
3
2
1