#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs

2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Building Characteristics Highlights
U.S. Energy Information Administration #CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 2

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Office of Energy Statistics

U.S. Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

This publication is available at:

https://www.eia.gov/cbecs

This report was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency 

within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIA's data and analyses are independent of approval by any other officer 

or employee of the United States Government. The views in this report therefore should not be construed as 

representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies.

2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Building Characteristics Highlights

Released September 2021

Revised September 2022
U.S. Energy Information Administration

What is the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS)?

CBECS is:

• The only independent, statistically representative source of national-level data on the characteristics and energy use of commercial buildings

• A snapshot of the commercial buildings stock and energy use for the reference year—in this case, 2018

• A sample survey where every commercial building has a known chance of being selected

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects data for commercial buildings in two parts:

• We collect building characteristics through an in-person or web survey. Respondents, such as building owners and managers, completed the 

survey at 6,436 buildings for the 2018 CBECS, representing 5.9 million buildings in the United States.

• We collect energy usage data from suppliers of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and district heat.

We have conducted the CBECS periodically since 1979, as required by Congress.

• The 2018 CBECS is the 11th iteration. 

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 3
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Key takeaways from EIA’s 2018 CBECS building characteristics results

• Growth in building size continued to outpace increases in building stock; from 2003 to 2018, the number of buildings increased by 22% 

and total floorspace by 35%.

• Newer buildings were larger, on average, than older commercial buildings.

• Warehouse and storage, office, and service buildings were the most common building types.

• Building types with the largest percentage increase in the number of buildings since 2012 were service, public assembly, lodging, and 

warehouse and storage.

• Shares of commercial buildings, commercial floorspace, and the U.S. population were highest in the South Census Region.

• Natural gas was the most common space heating energy source, and electricity was the most commonly used energy source overall.

• Out of all types of lighting equipment, only LED lighting use increased since 2012.

• An estimated 2% of commercial buildings had electric vehicle charging stations.

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 4

Note: These data are for reference year 2018 and do not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All data referenced in this document is available in the CBECS building characteristics tables. 

These data supersede the 2018 preliminary data previously published. Unless otherwise noted, all differences are statistically significant at the 10% significance level or lower. A lower significance level 

indicates a lower likelihood of incorrectly concluding a difference exists between two values when no difference actually exists.
U.S. Energy Information Administration #CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 5

Table of contents Slide number

Buildings and floorspace 6

Principal building activity 11

Year of construction 17

Regional estimates 21

Energy sources and end uses 25

Energy-related building features 33

References and additional information 38
Buildings and Floorspace

The CBECS includes buildings larger than 1,000 square feet for which more than half the floorspace is 

used for activities that are neither residential, manufacturing, industrial, nor agricultural.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1979 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1999 2003 2012 2018

year of survey

Growth in building size outpaced increases in building stock 

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 7

Number of commercial buildings and floorspace, 1979–2018

number of buildings (millions) and billion square feet

• CBECS estimates that there were 5.9 million buildings 

and 96 billion square feet of total commercial floorspace

in 2018.

• The CBECS estimates that over 15 years (from 2003 to 

2018), the total number of buildings increased by 22% 

and total floorspace increased by 35%.

• Total square footage increased by 11% from 2012 to 

2018. The increase in number of buildings from 2012 to 

2018 was not statistically significant.

• From the first CBECS in 1979 to the 2018 CBECS, the 

number of buildings has increased from 3.8 million to 5.9 

million (56%), and the amount of commercial floorspace 

has increased from 51 billion square feet to 96 billion 

square feet (89%).

number of buildings (millions) billion square feet

total commercial floorspace

number of commercial buildings

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Typical building size category illustrations 

square feet (sf)

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 8
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Over 500,000

200,001 to 500,000

100,001 to 200,000

50,001 to 100,000

25,001 to 50,000

10,001 to 25,000

5,001 to 10,000

1,001 to 5,000

Most buildings were small, but large buildings dominated total floorspace

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 9

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by square footage category, 2018

percentage

• The smallest buildings (1,001 square feet [sf] to 

5,000 sf) accounted for almost half of all 

commercial buildings, but they occupied only 8% 

of total commercial floorspace. 

• Nearly three-fourths (71%) of buildings were 

10,000 sf or smaller.

• Buildings larger than 100,000 sf accounted for 

less than 3% of commercial buildings but 34% of 

commercial floorspace.

• The median building size was 5,400 sf; the 

average building size was 16,300 sf.

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Building size increased with more average floorspace per worker

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 10

Average square feet per worker, all buildings and office buildings, 1995–2018

square feet

• Total main shift workers in commercial buildings 

increased by 12%, from 77 million workers in 1995 to 

86 million workers in 2018.

• CBECS estimates that the average square feet per 

worker in commercial buildings in 2018 was 1,072 sf, 

a 40% increase from 1995. 

• Although office buildings had the most workers, the 

square feet per worker was much lower for offices 

than the average for all building types. On average, 

office workers had 507 sf of floorspace. In 1995, the 

average floorspace for workers in offices was 387 sf.

• Building types that serve the public likely have many 

more occupants than workers; religious worship, 

lodging, and public assembly all had an average of 

more than 2,000 square feet per worker.

religious worship

lodging

warehouse and storage

public assembly

Buildings with the largest 

square feet per worker, 2018

all buildings office buildings

2,767 sf

2,291 sf

2,214 sf

2,075 sf

2,656 sf

2,431 sf

2,222 sf

2,082 sf

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1995 1999 2003 2012 2018
Principal Building Activity

• Education

• Food sales

• Food service

• Health care

• Lodging

• Mercantile

• Office

• Public assembly

• Public order and safety

• Religious worship

• Service

• Warehouse and storage

• Other

• Vacant

The principal building activity is the activity or function that occupies the most floorspace in a 

building. EIA designed the following principal building activity categories to group buildings 

that have similar patterns of energy consumption:

Visit Building Type Definitions on the CBECS web page to learn more about 

these principal building activities.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Warehouse and storage, office, and service buildings were the most common building types

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 12

5.9 million

number of buildings

warehouse and 

storage, 17%

office, 16%

service, 15%

mercantile, 9%

public assembly, 8% 

religious worship, 7% 

education, 7% 

food service, 5% 

all other buildings, 15%

lodging 

health care

food sales 

public order and safety 

vacant 

other

Percentage of commercial buildings and floorspace by principal building activity, 2018

96.4 billion 

total floorspace

in square feet

all other buildings, 12%

lodging, 7% 

health care

food service

food sales 

public order and safety 

vacant 

other

warehouse and 

storage, 18%

office, 17%

service, 6%

mercantile, 11%

public assembly, 7% 

religious worship, 6% 

education, 14% 

• Warehouse and storage, office, and service buildings together accounted for 48% of all commercial buildings and 42% of total 

commercial building floorspace.

• Although service buildings were the third most common building type, these buildings accounted for only 6% of total floorspace. 

Education buildings accounted for 7% of all buildings, but they accounted for 14% of total floorspace.

• Although food service buildings accounted for 5% of all commercial buildings, they accounted for only 1% of total floorspace. Lodging 

buildings accounted for 4% of commercial buildings, but they accounted for 7% of total floorspace.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Many principal building activities increased in the number of buildings from 2012 to 2018

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 13

Number of commercial buildings by principal building activity, 2018

thousands

• The largest percentage increases in the 

number of buildings were for service (40%), 

public assembly (39%), lodging (31%), and 

warehouse and storage (26%).

• The largest percentage decreases in the 

number of buildings were for vacant (30%) 

and food service (25%).

* Change is statistically significant at the 10% significance level.

** Change is statistically significant at the 5% significance level.

2012 2018

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200

warehouse and storage*

office

service**

mercantile

public assembly**

religious worship

education

food service**

lodging**

vacant*

food sales

health care

other

public order and safety

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Buildings used for lodging were the largest, and buildings used for food service were the smallest

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 14

Average floorspace by principal building activity, 2018

square feet per building

• On average, among the principal building activities, lodging 

(33,700 sf), education (31,100 sf), and health care (29,300 

sf) were the largest buildings. 

• The size of inpatient health care buildings (hospitals) 

contributes greatly to the health care category’s average 

floorspace. Hospitals averaged 264,800 sf per building, 

compared with outpatient health care buildings, which 

averaged 13,700 sf.

• On average, food service buildings were the smallest (4,800 

sf), followed by food sales, service, and vacant. 

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

food service

food sales

service

vacant

religious worship

public assembly

all buildings

office

warehouse and storage

public order and safety

mercantile

other

health care

education

lodging

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Office and education buildings had the most workers

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 15

Number of main shift workers and buildings by principal building activity, 2018

percentage

• Half of all main shift workers worked in office and education 

buildings in 2018.

• Although health care buildings accounted for 2% of 

commercial buildings, health care workers accounted for 8% 

of all main shift workers.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

vacant

food sales

public order and safety

other

religious worship

lodging

food service

public assembly

service

health care

warehouse and storage

mercantile

education

office

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

percentage of main shift workers

percentage of buildings
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Lodging buildings operated the most hours per week

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 16

Average weekly operating hours in commercial buildings by principal building activity, 2018

hours

12%

all buildings 

98%

lodging 

74%

public order and safety 

Percentage of buildings 

open continuously

• On average, lodging (165 hours), public order and 

safety (131 hours), and food sales (110 hours) buildings 

operated the most hours per week.

• The proportion of lodging buildings that were open 

continuously contributes greatly to the average 

operating hours per week. Almost all lodging buildings 

were open continuously (98%).

• Religious worship, and vacant buildings were open less 

than 50 hours per week on average.

0 42 84 126 168

lodging

public order and safety

food sales

other

food service

warehouse and storage

mercantile

all buildings

health care

office

service

public assembly

education

religious worship

vacant

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
Year of Construction

The year of construction is the year in which the major part or the largest portion of a building 

was constructed.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

More than half of U.S. commercial buildings were built between 1960 and 1999

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 18

• Buildings built between 1960 and 1999 accounted 

for more than 50% of both total number of buildings 

and of floorspace.

• One-quarter of buildings (25%) were built after 2000, 

accounting for 29% of total floorspace.

• Buildings built before 1960 represented 21% of 

buildings but only 17% of total floorspace.

• The median year of construction was 1981. 

Share of number of buildings and floorspace by year constructed, 2018

percentage of total for all buildings

before 1920

1946–1959

1920–1945

1980–1989

1960–1969

1970–1979

2010–2018

1990–1999

2000–2009

before 1960 1960 to 1999 2000 to 2018

buildings floorspace buildings floorspace buildings floorspace

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

before 1920 1920 to

1945

1946 to

1959

1960 to

1969

1970 to

1979

1980 to

1989

1990 to

1999

2000 to

2009

2010 to

2018

Newer buildings were larger, on average, than older commercial buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 19

Average building size by year of construction, 2018

square feet

before 1960

average: 13,200 square feet

2000 to 2018

average: 19,000 square feet

• Buildings constructed before 1960 are 

smaller than buildings constructed since 

2000—more than 5,000 square feet smaller, 

on average.

• Buildings constructed since 2000 averaged 

19,000 square feet, or 2,700 square feet 

larger than the national average.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

1960 to 1999

average: 16,300 square feet
U.S. Energy Information Administration

More than a third of lodging and health care buildings were constructed since 2000

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 20

Proportion of commercial buildings by year of construction and 

principal building activity, 2018

percentage • More than 30% of health care, lodging, and public order and safety 

buildings were constructed since 2000.

• More than 30% of food service, religious worship, and vacant buildings 

were constructed before 1960.

before 1960 1960 to 1999 2000 to 2018

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

lodging

health care

public order and safety

mercantile

food service

warehouse and storage

food sales

service

all buildings

public assembly

office

other

education

religious worship

vacant

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
Regional Estimates

In addition to national estimates, CBECS estimates building characteristics by census region 

and division.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

U.S. census regions and divisions

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 22
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Northeast Midwest South West

Commercial buildings, floorspace, and population were highest in the South

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 23

Commercial buildings, floorspace, and U.S. population by region, 2018

percentage

• More than one-third of the U.S. population (38%), buildings 

(36%), and floorspace (36%) were in the South.

• The Midwest was the only region with a smaller share of the 

total U.S. population than of buildings. It had the second-highest 

share of buildings (29%) and floorspace (27%) but had the thirdhighest share of the U.S. population (21%).

• The West had nearly one-fourth of the U.S. population (24%) 

and about one-fifth of buildings (21%) and floorspace (20%).

buildings

floorspace

2018 U.S. population

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey; U.S. Census 

Bureau, Population Estimates Program, based on one-year estimates from the American Community Survey.

Note: Population estimates are as of July 1, 2018.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000

 Pacific

 Mountain

 West South Central

 East South Central

 South Atlantic

 West North Central

 East North Central

 Middle Atlantic

 New England

Commercial buildings were largest in the Middle Atlantic

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 24

• Commercial buildings in the Middle Atlantic Census 

Division averaged 23,600 square feet (sf), 45% more 

than the average for all U.S. buildings (16,300 sf) in 

2018. 

• Commercial buildings were among the smallest on 

average (13,600 sf) in New England and brought the 

average building size for the entire Northeast region 

down to 20,100 square feet, which was 23% more 

than the national average floorspace.

Average square feet per building by census division, 2018

thousands

national average: 16,300 square feet

Northeast

average: 20,100 square feet

Midwest

average: 15,100 square feet

South

average: 16,300 square feet

West

average: 15,500 square feet

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
Energy Sources and End Uses

An energy source is a type of energy or fuel consumed in a building. In the CBECS, we 

obtained information about the use of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, district heat, district 

chilled water, propane, wood, coal, and solar in commercial buildings from the building 

respondent.

An energy end use is a use for which energy is consumed in a building. We collected 

information on seven specific end uses in the CBECS—space heating, cooling, water 

heating, cooking, manufacturing, electricity generation, and lighting.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Although electricity was most common, other sources are also used in commercial buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 26

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by energy source, 2018

percentage

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

• Electricity was the most commonly used energy 

source in commercial buildings. It was used in 

95% of buildings, which accounted for 98% of 

total floorspace.

• Half of commercial buildings and more than twothirds of floorspace (70%) used natural gas.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

electricity natural gas propane fuel oil wood, coal,

and other

solar district heat chilled water

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Four end uses were common among more than three-fourths of commercial buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 27

93% 83% 78% 78% 29% 12% 5%

98% 92% 91% 91% 45% 7%

lighting space 

heating cooling water 

heating cooking electricity 

generation manufacturing

number of 

buildings

total 

floorspace

Percentage of commercial buildings and floorspace by end use, 2018

• Lighting, space heating, cooling, and water 

heating were each used in more than threefourths of commercial buildings, accounting 

for at least 90% of total floorspace.

• Electricity generation was more common in 

larger buildings. Buildings with electricity 

generation averaged 41,700 square feet, 

more than twice the size of the average 

building.

31%

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Natural gas was used most for space heating; electricity was used most for cooling

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 28

Commercial building space heating and primary heating by energy source, 2018

percentage of buildings

• For space heating, natural gas (44%) or electricity (43%) were used in the majority of commercial buildings.

• More than three-fourths (78%) of commercial buildings were cooled using electricity.

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

other sources

district heat

fuel oil

propane

electricity

natural gas

all heating

any space heating

primary space heating

Commercial building cooling by energy source, 2018

percentage of buildings

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

natural gas

district chilled water

electricity

all cooling

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: For any space heating, more than one heating energy source may apply. Other sources include wood, coal, 

solar, and all other energy sources.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Northeast Midwest South West

Space heating energy sources varied by region

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 29

electricity

natural gas

fuel oil

district heat

propane

Commercial building heating by region and energy source, 2018

percentage of buildings

• Electricity use for space heating was highest in the South 

(55%), but natural gas use for space heating was lowest in 

the South (33%).

• The Northeast had the largest percentage of buildings using 

fuel oil for space heating (23%).

• Although 9% of buildings in the Northeast used propane for 

space heating, in particular, 22% of buildings in the New 

England Census Division were heated by propane.

• District heat use was 4% or less in each region.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one energy source may apply.

Q = Data withheld either because the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50 percent or 

fewer than 20 buildings were sampled.

Q Q
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Packaged heating units and furnaces were the most commonly used heating equipment

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 30

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by heating equipment, 2018

percentage

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one type of heating equipment may apply.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

district heat

duct reheat

heat pumps

boilers

individual space heaters

furnaces

packaged heating units

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

• Packaged heating units were used in 37% of 

buildings, or 50% of total floorspace. 

• Furnaces were used in 27% of buildings, but 

these buildings only accounted for 18% of total 

floorspace.

• Although boilers were used in only 12% of 

buildings, these buildings accounted for 30% of 

total floorspace.

Average building size 

by heating equipment

22,000 sf

10,700 sf

17,000 sf

41,000 sf

22,400 sf

55,200 sf

79,300 sf
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

district chilled water

swamp coolers

central chillers

heat pumps

individual air conditioners

residential-type central air conditioners

packaged air-conditioning units

Packaged air-conditioning units cool more than half of commercial floorspace

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 31

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by cooling equipment, 2018

percentage

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one type of cooling equipment may apply. 

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

• Packaged air-conditioning units were used in 

43% of buildings, or 58% of total floorspace.

• Residential-type central air conditioners were 

used in 22% of buildings, but these buildings 

only account for 19% of total floorspace.

• Although central chillers were used in only 

3% of buildings, these buildings account for 

19% of total floorspace.

Average building size 

by cooling equipment

21,900 sf

14,000 sf

18,500 sf

22,500 sf

88,800 sf

24,500 sf

77,500 sf
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Out of all types of lighting equipment, only LED lighting use increased since 2012

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 32

33%

84%

41%

9%

16%

9%

19%

68%

19%

4%

9%

44%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Lighting equipment used in commercial buildings by bulb type, 2018

percentage of buildings

incandescent

standard 

fluorescent

compact 

fluorescent

high-intensity 

discharge (HID)

halogen

LED 2012 2018

• Standard fluorescent lighting was used in 68% 

of buildings, falling from 84% in 2012.

• The percentage of commercial buildings that 

used LED lighting increased from 9% in 2012 to 

44% in 2018.

• Aside from LED, all other bulb types decreased 

in usage between 2012 and 2018.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one bulb type may apply. All changes from 2012 to 2018 were statistically significant at the 5% significance level. 
Energy-Related Building Features

CBECS collects data on items such as ventilation systems, temperature controls for HVAC, 

window properties, lighting features, and technologies such as electricity generation and 

electric vehicle charging.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

regular HVAC maintenance

programmable thermostat

building automation system (BAS) for heating/cooling

economizer cycle

variable air volume (VAV) system

demand controlled ventilation (DCV)

internet-connected (smart) thermostat

dedicated outside air system (DOAS)

More than half of commercial buildings performed regular HVAC maintenance

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 34

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by HVAC features, 2018

percentage

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one HVAC feature may apply. 

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

• Regular HVAC maintenance was used in 60% of 

commercial buildings, or 81% of floorspace.

• Although programmable thermostat use was the 

second-most common HVAC feature (26% of 

buildings), it accounted for only 22% of floorspace.

• We collected data about the presence of internetconnected (smart) thermostats for the first time in 

the 2018 CBECS. We estimate that 5% of 

buildings used smart thermostats.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

plug-load control

demand responsive lighting

daylight harvesting

building automation system (BAS) for lighting

multilevel lighting or dimming

skylights or atriums

light scheduling

occupancy sensors

reflective window glass

external overhangs or awnings

tinted window glass

multipaned windows

The most common window and lighting features were multipaned windows and occupancy sensors

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 35

Total commercial buildings and floorspace by window and interior lighting features, 2018 

percentage

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: More than one window or lighting feature may apply. See the CBECS Terminology for definitions of terms used. 

percentage of total commercial buildings

percentage of total commercial floorspace

lighting features

window features • Multipaned windows were used in 60% of buildings, 

which accounted for 75% of commercial floorspace.

• Occupancy sensors, the most commonly used 

lighting feature, were used in 17% of buildings, which 

accounted for 46% of floorspace.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Half of public order and safety buildings used electricity generation technologies 

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 36

Electricity generation in commercial buildings by principal building activity, 2018

percentage of buildings

public order and safety

other

lodging

health care

office

education

public assembly

service

all buildings

food sales

mercantile

warehouse and storage

religious worship

• Electricity generation technologies include solar panels, 

reciprocating engine generators, and other technologies. 

These technologies may generate electricity all the time, 

during times of peak demand, or only for backup 

emergency use.

• Most of the electricity generation in public order and safety 

buildings was from reciprocating engine generators.

• Although 22% of health care buildings overall had 

electricity generation, 100% of inpatient health care 

buildings had electricity generation capabilities.

• The activities most likely to have solar panels were public 

assembly (3% of buildings, or 8% of floorspace) and 

education (3% of buildings, or 6% of floorspace).

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Note: Data was not sufficient to produce estimates for food service and vacant buildings.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

New question provides insight on the prevalence of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 37

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

10,001 to

25,000

25,001 to

50,000

50,001 to

100,000

100,001 to

200,000

200,001 to

500,000

Over

500,000

Percentage of commercial buildings with EV charging stations 

by square footage category, 2018

Percentage of commercial buildings with EV charging stations 

by select principal building activity, 2018

• The CBECS estimates that 2% of commercial buildings had EV charging stations.

• Lodging and service buildings were building types most likely to have EV charging, and the larger the building, the more likely it was 

to have EV charging. More than one-third (36%) of buildings over 500,000 sf reported having EV charging stations.

0% 2% 4% 6% 8%

lodging

service

warehouse and storage

health care

office

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey
References and Additional Information
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Additional CBECS information

• 2018 building characteristics tables

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2018/index.php?view=characteristics

• Guide to the tables

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2018/guide.php

• CBECS terminology

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/terminology.php

• CBECS building type definitions

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/building-type-definitions.php

• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/faq.php

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U.S. Energy Information Administration

For more information

U.S. Energy Information Administration homepage | www.eia.gov

Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey | www.eia.gov/cbecs

Today in Energy | www.eia.gov/todayinenergy

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 40