Total U.S. Housing Units............................. 111.1 26.7 28.8 20.6 13.1 22.0 16.6 38.6

Do Not Have Heating Equipment................ 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 Q 0.2 0.3 0.6

Have Space Heating Equipment................. 109.8 26.2 28.5 20.4 13.0 21.8 16.3 37.9

Use Space Heating Equipment.................. 109.1 25.9 28.1 20.3 12.9 21.8 16.0 37.3

Have But Do Not Use Equipment............... 0.8 0.3 0.3 Q Q N 0.4 0.6

Space Heating Usage During 2005

Heated Floorspace (Square Feet)

None...................................................... 3.6 1.2 1.2 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.9 1.9

1 to 499.................................................. 6.1 2.9 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.7 3.5

500 to 999.............................................. 27.7 11.7 8.5 4.1 1.7 1.6 7.2 14.4

1,000 to 1,499........................................ 26.0 6.3 7.8 5.7 2.8 3.4 4.0 9.4

1,500 to 1,999........................................ 17.6 2.5 4.8 3.9 2.6 3.8 1.4 4.9

2,000 to 2,499........................................ 10.7 0.9 2.1 2.3 2.1 3.4 0.6 1.8

2,500 to 2,999........................................ 7.7 0.5 1.3 1.6 1.6 2.8 0.3 1.1

3,000 to 3,499........................................ 3.8 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.5 1.7 0.3 0.5

3,500 to 3,999........................................ 2.6 Q 0.4 Q 0.5 1.4 Q 0.2

4,000 or More......................................... 5.2 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.7 2.9 Q 0.7

Total Number of Rooms

(Excluding Bathrooms)

0............................................................. 2.1 0.6 0.8 Q Q 0.3 0.5 1.1

1 or 2...................................................... 3.1 1.7 0.7 0.3 Q Q 0.9 1.9

3............................................................. 8.3 4.3 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.4 2.4 4.8

4............................................................. 16.6 6.5 5.1 2.7 1.2 1.0 4.1 8.5

5............................................................. 23.3 6.9 7.2 4.5 2.3 2.3 4.5 9.7

6............................................................. 22.6 3.1 6.9 5.0 3.5 4.1 2.0 6.2

7............................................................. 16.3 2.3 3.1 3.9 3.0 4.1 1.4 3.6

8............................................................. 9.7 0.7 1.7 2.1 1.1 4.1 0.5 1.7

9 or More................................................ 9.1 0.5 0.9 1.1 1.3 5.4 0.3 1.0

At Home Behavior

Home Used for Business

Yes..................................................... 8.9 0.8 1.6 1.8 1.3 3.4 0.6 1.5

No....................................................... 102.2 25.9 27.2 18.8 11.8 18.5 16.1 37.1

Someone Home All Day

Yes..................................................... 56.4 16.6 15.3 9.3 6.4 8.8 10.9 24.0

No....................................................... 54.7 10.1 13.5 11.2 6.7 13.2 5.8 14.5

Housing Unit Characteristics Affecting Usage

Adequacy of Insulation

Well Insulated........................................ 42.8 9.0 11.0 8.2 5.1 9.5 4.8 13.1

Adequately Insulated.............................. 46.3 10.4 11.4 8.8 6.0 9.8 6.5 14.9

Poorly Insulated..................................... 19.0 6.0 5.5 3.3 1.8 2.4 4.5 8.7

No Insulation.......................................... 1.4 0.7 0.3 Q Q Q 0.5 0.9

Don't Know............................................. 1.7 0.7 0.6 Q Q Q 0.4 1.0

Home is Too Drafty During the Winter

Never..................................................... 62.9 14.3 16.5 11.7 7.4 13.1 8.2 20.1

Some of the Time................................... 32.4 7.6 7.7 6.4 4.2 6.5 5.0 11.2

Most of the Time.................................... 6.1 2.0 1.5 1.1 0.6 1.0 1.4 2.8

All of the Time........................................ 5.6 1.9 1.7 0.8 0.5 0.7 1.4 2.8

Don't Know............................................. 4.1 1.0 1.3 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.7 1.7

Table HC7.5 Space Heating Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Space Heating Usage Indicators

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance1

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

$39,999

$40,000 to 

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics
Table HC7.5 Space Heating Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Space Heating Usage Indicators

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance1

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

$39,999

$40,000 to 

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

Unusually High Ceilings

Yes......................................................... 27.2 2.3 4.9 5.2 4.5 10.3 1.4 4.2

No.......................................................... 76.9 21.4 21.4 14.6 8.2 11.4 13.3 30.5

Not Asked (Mobile Homes)..................... 6.9 3.0 2.5 0.8 0.4 0.3 1.9 3.9

Cathedral Ceilings

(In Housing Units with High Ceilings)

Yes..................................................... 17.1 0.9 2.7 3.0 2.9 7.5 0.5 2.0

No....................................................... 10.1 1.4 2.2 2.2 1.6 2.8 0.9 2.2

Type of Glass in Windows

Single-pane Glass.................................. 50.7 16.1 14.1 9.1 4.5 6.9 10.4 21.5

Double-pane Glass

Without Low-e Coating....................... 50.6 9.8 12.5 9.8 6.8 11.7 5.8 15.6

With Low-e Coating............................ 8.0 0.5 1.6 1.4 1.6 2.9 0.2 1.0

Triple-pane Glass

Without Low-e Coating....................... 1.0 Q 0.3 Q Q Q Q 0.3

With Low-e Coating............................ 0.3 N Q Q N 0.2 N Q

Proportion of Original Windows Replaced

All........................................................... 22.4 5.1 6.2 3.7 3.4 4.0 3.0 7.9

Some..................................................... 21.6 4.7 5.1 4.2 2.5 5.2 2.9 6.9

None...................................................... 62.3 15.3 16.1 11.9 6.8 12.2 9.7 21.5

Don't Know............................................. 4.7 1.6 1.4 0.8 0.3 0.6 1.0 2.2

Thermostats

Do Not Have a Thermostat...................... 15.3 6.9 4.4 1.8 1.0 1.2 4.9 9.1

Have a Thermostat................................... 95.8 19.9 24.4 18.7 12.1 20.7 11.7 29.5

1............................................................. 84.5 18.7 22.8 16.8 10.4 15.7 11.0 27.7

2 or More................................................ 11.3 1.1 1.6 1.9 1.7 5.0 0.7 1.8

Have a Programmable Thermostat

Yes..................................................... 33.1 4.2 6.5 6.5 5.5 10.4 2.6 6.7

No....................................................... 62.7 15.6 17.9 12.2 6.6 10.3 9.2 22.8

Use of Programmable Thermostats

Reduces Temperature During Day

Yes..................................................... 18.6 1.9 3.3 4.0 3.1 6.2 1.2 3.2

No....................................................... 14.5 2.3 3.1 2.5 2.4 4.2 1.3 3.5

Reduces Temperature at Night

Yes..................................................... 21.5 2.4 4.0 4.3 3.6 7.2 1.5 4.0

No....................................................... 11.6 1.8 2.4 2.3 1.8 3.3 1.0 2.7

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics
Table HC7.5 Space Heating Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Space Heating Usage Indicators

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance1

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

$39,999

$40,000 to 

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

Winter 2005 Temperature Settings

Lower Temperature Settings

Daytime When No One is at Home

Yes..................................................... 40.5 7.2 9.1 8.5 5.5 10.2 4.0 10.9

No....................................................... 59.1 15.0 16.5 10.8 6.4 10.4 9.5 21.8

Unknown............................................. 11.4 4.5 3.1 1.2 1.2 1.4 3.1 5.9

During Sleeping Hours

Yes..................................................... 40.7 7.5 9.5 8.0 5.2 10.5 4.2 10.8

No....................................................... 60.2 15.1 16.4 11.5 6.8 10.4 9.6 22.4

Unknown............................................. 10.2 4.2 2.8 1.1 1.0 1.0 2.9 5.4

Daytime Setting When No One is at Home

Heat Turned On...................................... 93.7 20.8 24.1 18.3 11.3 19.2 12.5 30.9

63 Degrees or Less............................ 18.9 4.0 4.7 3.4 2.6 4.2 2.5 6.0

64 to 66 Degrees................................ 17.4 3.1 4.5 3.6 2.1 4.1 1.9 4.7

67 to 69 Degrees................................ 17.8 2.9 4.4 4.1 2.2 4.2 1.5 4.6

70 Degrees......................................... 16.0 4.5 4.0 2.9 1.7 2.9 3.0 6.2

71 to 73 Degrees................................ 10.2 2.1 2.6 2.1 1.2 2.2 1.1 3.3

74 Degrees or More............................ 13.5 4.1 4.1 2.2 1.4 1.7 2.6 6.0

Don't Know/No Answer....................... 7.4 3.2 2.2 0.7 0.6 0.8 2.2 4.1

Heat Turned Off..................................... 8.7 2.2 2.2 1.4 1.1 1.8 1.6 2.9

Do Not Use Space Heating.................... 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 Q 0.2 0.3 0.7

Daytime Setting When Someone is at Home

Heat Turned On...................................... 101.5 22.7 26.2 19.6 12.1 20.9 14.0 33.3

63 Degrees or Less............................ 4.1 1.0 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.6

64 to 66 Degrees................................ 8.2 2.0 2.2 1.6 0.8 1.7 1.1 3.0

67 to 69 Degrees................................ 23.6 3.2 6.0 4.9 3.1 6.4 1.8 4.9

70 Degrees......................................... 24.6 6.4 5.8 4.3 2.9 5.3 4.0 9.0

71 to 73 Degrees................................ 17.6 3.3 4.2 3.7 2.3 4.1 1.7 4.9

74 Degrees or More............................ 23.2 6.8 6.7 4.4 2.4 2.9 4.4 9.9

Don't Know/No Answer....................... 6.0 2.9 1.8 0.5 0.4 0.4 1.9 3.7

Heat Turned Off..................................... 2.3 0.6 0.4 Q 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.8

Do Not Use Space Heating.................... 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 Q 0.2 0.3 0.7

Setting During Sleeping Hours

Heat Turned On...................................... 98.1 21.8 25.3 18.9 11.8 20.2 13.3 32.4

63 Degrees or Less............................ 13.0 2.7 3.7 2.0 1.5 3.1 1.7 4.0

64 to 66 Degrees................................ 18.4 3.8 4.0 4.0 2.4 4.3 2.0 5.1

67 to 69 Degrees................................ 20.8 3.3 5.5 4.2 2.6 5.2 1.7 5.2

70 Degrees......................................... 18.5 4.9 4.8 3.5 2.0 3.2 3.5 7.2

71 to 73 Degrees................................ 11.1 2.3 2.9 2.0 1.5 2.4 1.3 3.5

74 Degrees or More............................ 16.3 4.9 4.4 3.2 1.8 2.0 3.0 7.2

Don't Know/No Answer....................... 6.4 3.0 1.9 0.6 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.8

Heat Turned Off..................................... 5.4 1.4 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.1 1.1 1.8

Do Not Use Space Heating.................... 1.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 Q 0.2 0.3 0.7

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics
Table HC7.5 Space Heating Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Space Heating Usage Indicators

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance1

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

$39,999

$40,000 to 

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

Secondary Heating

Use Any Secondary Heating Equipment

Yes......................................................... 34.9 5.9 8.4 6.6 4.4 9.5 3.7 9.0

No.......................................................... 74.9 20.3 20.0 13.8 8.5 12.2 12.7 28.9

Proportion of Heat Provided by

Secondary Heating Equipment

Close to One-Half............................... 4.4 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.6 1.3

About One-Quarter............................. 5.8 0.9 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.5 0.8 1.4

Very Little or None.............................. 24.7 4.2 5.9 4.9 2.8 6.9 2.3 6.3

Type of Supplemental Heating Equipment Used

Heat Pump............................................. 0.6 Q Q Q Q 0.4 Q Q

Central Warm-Air Furnace..................... 2.3 0.4 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.3 0.6

Steam/Hot Water System....................... Q N Q Q N Q N Q

Built-in Electric Units.............................. 2.2 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.6 Q 0.4

Built-in Pipeless Furnace........................ 0.3 Q Q Q Q QQ Q

Built-in Room Heaters............................ 1.4 0.2 0.4 0.3 Q Q Q 0.3

Heating Stove......................................... 2.1 0.2 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.5

Portable Electric Heaters........................ 14.3 3.2 3.9 2.9 1.5 2.8 2.1 4.8

Portable Kerosene Heaters.................... 0.6 0.2 Q Q Q Q Q 0.3

Cooking Stove........................................ 0.5 0.3 Q Q N Q 0.2 0.4

Fireplace................................................ 10.5 1.0 1.9 2.0 1.5 4.1 0.4 1.5

Fireplace Fuel

Wood.................................................. 6.9 0.9 1.2 1.6 1.0 2.2 0.3 1.2

Natural Gas........................................ 2.7 Q 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.4 Q Q

Propane.............................................. 0.9 Q Q Q Q 0.5 N Q

Use of Gas Fireplace

During Winter Months

Most Days....................................... 1.2 Q Q Q Q 0.7 Q Q

About Once a Week........................ 1.3 N Q Q Q 0.8 N N

Less than 4 Times each Month....... 1.1 Q 0.3 Q Q 0.4 Q Q

Humidifier Use Each Year

Use a Humidifier........................................ 14.2 2.3 3.2 2.5 1.9 4.3 1.4 3.9

1 to 3 Months Each Year........................ 7.1 1.0 1.8 1.4 1.0 1.9 0.6 2.1

4 to 6 Months Each Year........................ 5.6 1.1 0.8 1.0 0.8 1.8 0.5 1.4

7 to 9 Months Each Year........................ 0.4 Q Q Q Q QQ Q

10 to 11 months..................................... Q N Q N N Q N Q

Turned on All Year Long......................... 1.1 Q 0.4 Q Q 0.3 Q 0.3

Do Not Use a Humidifier............................ 96.9 24.4 25.6 18.0 11.1 17.7 15.2 34.7

 Q = Data withheld either because the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50 percent or fewer than 10 households were sampled.

 N = No cases in reporting sample.

 Notes: ● Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. ● See Glossary for definition of terms used in these tables.

 Source: Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Markets and End Use, Forms EIA-457 A, B, C of the 2005 

Residential Energy Consumption Survey.

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics