All Buildings 

(thousand)

Total 

Floorspace 

(million 

square feet)

Total Workers 

in All 

Buildings 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Building 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Worker

Median Hours 

per Week

Median Age of

Buildings 

(years)

All Buildings ............................................... 4,657 67,338 81,852 5.0 909 50 30.5

Building Floorspace

(Square Feet)

1,001 to 5,000 .............................................. 2,348 6,774 11,125 2.5 667 50 30.5

5,001 to 10,000 ............................................ 1,110 8,238 10,968 7.0 1,000 50 34.5

10,001 to 25,000 .......................................... 708 11,153 11,378 15.0 1,354 55 28.5

25,001 to 50,000 .......................................... 257 9,311 9,243 35.0 1,500 60 29.5

50,001 to 100,000 ........................................ 145 10,112 12,777 65.0 1,214 60 24.5

100,001 to 200,000 ...................................... 59 8,271 8,856 130.0 1,400 75 22.5

200,001 to 500,000 ...................................... 23 6,851 8,798 275.0 1,500 80 27.5

Over 500,000 ............................................... 7 6,628 8,707 800.0 1,286 90 24.5

Principal Building Activity

Education .................................................... 327 8,651 8,927 8.0 1,000 45 35.5

Food Sales .................................................. 174 994 980 2.5 833 112 19.5

Food Service ............................................... 349 1,851 4,031 3.8 500 80 27.5

Health Care ................................................. 127 2,918 6,219 5.0 501 50 23.5

 Inpatient ..................................................... 11 1,865 3,350 65.0 563 168 36.5

 Outpatient .................................................. 116 1,053 2,869 4.5 501 45 22.5

Lodging ........................................................ 153 4,521 2,356 10.0 2,031 168 28.5

Mercantile .................................................... 667 10,398 11,384 6.0 1,125 54 36.5

 Retail (Other Than Mall) ............................ 534 4,766 4,668 4.0 1,250 53 40.5

 Enclosed and Strip Malls ........................... 133 5,631 6,716 13.8 650 73 24.5

Office ........................................................... 739 12,044 28,969 4.5 500 45 24.5

Public Assembly .......................................... 305 4,393 3,147 6.5 2,500 50 32.5

Public Order and Safety .............................. 72 1,168 1,702 10.0 425 20 24.5

Religious Worship ....................................... 307 3,405 1,654 8.0 3,000 20 38.5

Service ........................................................ 478 3,388 4,554 4.3 1,111 50 31.5

Warehouse and Storage ............................. 603 10,477 6,216 6.0 1,417 48 24.5

Other ............................................................ 102 1,222 1,453 5.0 769 48 30.5

Vacant ......................................................... 253 1,908 261 4.5 1,583 70 49.5

Year Constructed

1919 or Before ............................................. 419 4,034 3,911 4.5 1,250 48 99.5

1920 to 1945 ................................................ 499 6,445 5,925 4.8 1,161 50 67.5

1946 to 1959 ................................................ 763 9,127 9,832 5.5 944 48 46.5

1960 to 1969 ................................................ 665 10,866 12,886 5.0 758 55 35.5

1970 to 1979 ................................................ 774 11,840 15,842 5.0 875 51 24.5

1980 to 1989 ................................................ 846 13,931 19,828 5.5 833 50 14.5

1990 to 1999 ................................................ 690 11,094 13,628 4.8 708 50 6.5

Floors

One .............................................................. 2,879 26,800 29,908 4.0 833 50 25.5

Two .............................................................. 1,168 16,985 18,749 6.0 1,000 54 35.5

Three ........................................................... 420 8,928 9,545 9.5 1,250 53 59.5

Four to Nine ................................................. 178 10,180 15,069 17.5 1,000 60 63.5

Ten or More ................................................. 11 4,445 8,582 225.0 563 70 30.5

Census Region and Division

Northeast ..................................................... 686 12,360 14,407 6.0 813 54 39.5

 New England ............................................. 208 3,735 3,889 5.5 750 54 35.5

 Middle Atlantic ........................................... 479 8,625 10,518 6.5 833 53 40.5

Midwest ....................................................... 1,188 16,761 18,279 5.0 1,125 50 37.5

 East North Central ..................................... 782 11,205 11,668 5.5 1,125 50 43.5

 West North Central .................................... 406 5,556 6,611 4.5 1,125 49 29.5

South ........................................................... 1,762 23,485 29,186 5.0 875 50 24.5

 South Atlantic ............................................ 748 11,001 14,051 5.5 700 50 24.5

 East South Central .................................... 396 5,220 5,908 6.5 813 55 24.5

 West South Central ................................... 618 7,264 9,226 4.0 1,167 50 23.5

West ............................................................ 1,021 14,731 19,981 5.0 750 50 29.5

 Mountain .................................................... 315 4,579 5,201 5.0 950 50 33.5

 Pacific ........................................................ 705 10,152 14,780 5.0 735 50 29.5

Table B2. Summary Table: Totals and Medians of Floorspace, Number of Workers, 

Hours of Operation, and Age of Building, 1999

Energy Information Administration

1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey: Building Characteristics Tables 6
All Buildings 

(thousand)

Total 

Floorspace 

(million 

square feet)

Total Workers 

in All 

Buildings 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Building 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Worker

Median Hours 

per Week

Median Age of

Buildings 

(years)

Table B2. Summary Table: Totals and Medians of Floorspace, Number of Workers, 

Hours of Operation, and Age of Building, 1999

Climate Zone: 45-Year Average

Under 2,000 CDD and --

 More than 7,000 HDD ................................ 525 5,890 5,857 4.3 900 50 34.5

 5,500-7,000 HDD ...................................... 986 17,083 18,323 5.5 1,000 50 39.5

 4,000-5,499 HDD ...................................... 1,085 16,243 22,136 5.5 944 50 32.5

 Fewer than 4,000 HDD .............................. 1,134 16,333 21,145 5.0 750 50 27.5

2,000 CDD or More and --

 Fewer than 4,000 HDD .............................. 926 11,788 14,393 5.0 1,125 50 27.5

Workers (main shift)

Fewer than 5 ................................................ 2,376 14,321 4,240 3.5 1,625 49 35.5

5 to 9 ............................................................ 807 6,325 5,313 4.5 667 50 28.5

10 to 19 ........................................................ 683 8,028 8,588 6.5 550 51 27.5

20 to 49 ........................................................ 487 10,814 14,098 12.5 469 58 24.5

50 to 99 ........................................................ 174 8,898 11,427 35.0 542 65 25.5

100 to 249 .................................................... 90 8,356 12,617 65.0 433 56 26.5

250 or More ................................................. 39 10,595 25,569 150.0 333 72 21.5

Weekly Operating Hours

39 or Fewer ................................................. 978 6,596 3,517 4.0 1,500 38 38.5

40 to 48 ........................................................ 1,156 13,105 15,619 5.5 875 45 34.5

49 to 60 ........................................................ 986 14,200 20,714 5.5 800 50 29.5

61 to 84 ........................................................ 664 12,458 16,147 6.0 833 65 30.5

85 to 167 ...................................................... 474 9,116 10,796 5.0 792 98 21.5

Open Continuously ...................................... 398 11,863 15,060 6.0 1,023 168 27.5

Ownership and Occupancy

Nongovernment Owned .............................. 4,135 54,994 67,787 5.0 917 50 30.5

 Owner Occupied ........................................ 2,801 37,785 46,555 5.0 938 50 29.5

 Nonowner Occupied .................................. 1,099 15,596 21,233 5.0 889 50 30.5

 Unoccupied ............................................... 236 1,613 0 3.8 0 70 35.5

Government Owned .................................... 521 12,343 14,065 6.5 750 45 31.5

Vacancy Status

Completely Vacant ...................................... 140 953 0 4.0 0 76 47.5

Mostly Vacant .............................................. 113 956 261 4.8 1,583 40 54.5

Partially Vacant ............................................ 697 15,520 20,518 6.0 1,053 50 25.5

Not At All Vacant ......................................... 3,707 49,910 61,073 5.0 857 50 29.5

Number of Establishments

One .............................................................. 3,528 43,343 48,677 5.0 1,000 50 30.5

2 to 5 ............................................................ 688 10,582 12,379 6.5 694 50 28.5

6 to 10 .......................................................... 114 3,574 6,580 15.0 600 64 19.5

11 to 20 ........................................................ 48 3,260 5,965 35.0 476 60 21.5

More than 20 ............................................... 27 4,811 8,251 60.0 650 60 29.5

Currently Unoccupied .................................. 251 1,769 0 3.8 0 67 39.5

Energy Sources (more than

one may apply)

Electricity ..................................................... 4,395 65,716 81,768 5.0 889 50 29.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 2,670 45,525 56,264 6.0 917 50 34.5

Fuel Oil ........................................................ 434 13,285 19,583 5.0 926 52 39.5

District Heat ................................................. 117 5,891 8,654 15.0 1,375 80 35.5

District Chilled Water ................................... 50 2,750 4,637 18.7 1,375 84 27.5

Propane ....................................................... 451 6,290 6,349 6.0 1,000 55 26.5

Wood ........................................................... 79 570 578 4.5 1,500 60 29.5

Coal ............................................................. Q Q Q 4.5 2,250 45 35.5

Solar ............................................................ Q Q Q 6.0 385 53 23.5

Other ............................................................ 69 1,563 2,578 5.0 1,250 50 24.5

Energy Information Administration

1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey: Building Characteristics Tables 7
All Buildings 

(thousand)

Total 

Floorspace 

(million 

square feet)

Total Workers 

in All 

Buildings 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Building 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Worker

Median Hours 

per Week

Median Age of

Buildings 

(years)

Table B2. Summary Table: Totals and Medians of Floorspace, Number of Workers, 

Hours of Operation, and Age of Building, 1999

Space-Heating Energy Sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity ..................................................... 1,880 32,291 43,236 5.0 750 50 25.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 2,380 37,902 45,992 6.0 917 50 34.5

Fuel Oil ........................................................ 377 5,611 6,542 4.3 944 50 43.5

District Heat ................................................. 96 5,534 8,116 18.7 1,500 70 40.5

Propane ....................................................... 307 2,728 2,428 5.0 1,333 49 21.5

Wood ........................................................... 66 377 338 3.8 1,500 60 28.5

Coal ............................................................. Q Q Q 4.5 2,250 45 35.5

Solar ............................................................ Q Q Q 42.5 390 45 31.5

Other ............................................................ 26 409 760 5.0 1,146 44 24.5

Primary Space-Heating

Energy Source

Electricity ..................................................... 1,128 17,627 25,423 5.0 677 50 21.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 2,189 32,729 39,164 5.5 921 50 35.5

Fuel Oil ........................................................ 302 3,719 4,247 4.8 944 50 43.5

District Heat ................................................. 77 5,077 7,008 25.0 1,900 90 42.5

Propane ....................................................... 282 2,107 1,907 5.0 1,250 48 20.5

Wood ........................................................... Q Q Q 2.8 1,500 40 19.5

Coal ............................................................. Q Q Q 37.5 938 40 40.5

Solar ............................................................ N N NNNNN

Other ............................................................ Q Q Q 12.5 1,250 44 24.5

Cooling Energy Sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity ..................................................... 3,450 55,545 72,764 5.5 833 50 28.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 142 1,914 2,846 8.0 769 60 25.5

District Chilled Water ................................... 50 2,750 4,637 18.7 1,375 84 27.5

Water-Heating Energy Sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity ..................................................... 1,546 24,171 33,505 5.0 735 50 24.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 1,520 29,196 35,930 7.0 938 60 32.5

Fuel Oil ........................................................ 110 2,218 2,905 4.8 531 75 43.5

District Heat ................................................. 62 4,182 5,870 25.0 1,452 98 33.5

Propane ....................................................... 130 1,371 1,465 6.0 700 86 23.5

Cooking Energy Sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity ..................................................... 437 13,733 18,369 6.5 833 84 24.5

Natural Gas ................................................. 505 16,785 21,352 7.0 750 70 31.5

Propane ....................................................... 118 1,754 2,187 3.8 583 86 24.5

Energy End Uses (more than

one may apply)

Buildings with Space Heating ...................... 4,016 61,602 78,082 5.0 857 50 29.5

Buildings with Cooling ................................. 3,560 58,474 77,367 5.5 833 50 28.5

Buildings with Water Heating ...................... 3,239 56,115 73,385 6.0 813 54 29.5

Buildings with Cooking ................................ 857 24,681 31,603 6.5 803 75 28.5

Buildings with Manufacturing ....................... 151 3,126 4,351 8.0 1,111 45 29.5

Buildings with Electricity

 Generation .................................................. 172 11,882 18,904 17.5 694 60 26.5

Percent of Floorspace Heated

Not Heated .................................................. 641 5,736 3,770 4.8 1,500 60 31.5

1 to 50 .......................................................... 576 7,593 5,239 6.5 1,500 50 29.5

51 to 99 ........................................................ 627 10,745 13,056 7.0 1,023 53 30.5

100 ............................................................... 2,813 43,264 59,787 5.0 750 50 29.5

Energy Information Administration

1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey: Building Characteristics Tables 8
All Buildings 

(thousand)

Total 

Floorspace 

(million 

square feet)

Total Workers 

in All 

Buildings 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Building 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Worker

Median Hours 

per Week

Median Age of

Buildings 

(years)

Table B2. Summary Table: Totals and Medians of Floorspace, Number of Workers, 

Hours of Operation, and Age of Building, 1999

Percent of Floorspace Cooled

Not Cooled .................................................. 1,097 8,864 4,485 4.0 1,500 48 39.5

1 to 50 .......................................................... 1,012 16,846 14,146 7.5 1,143 50 36.5

51 to 99 ........................................................ 751 16,966 23,833 7.0 1,000 56 30.5

100 ............................................................... 1,796 24,662 39,388 4.5 650 50 23.5

Percent Lit When Open

Zero ............................................................. 34 173 Q 2.0 500 91 16.5

1 to 50 .......................................................... 835 9,187 4,917 6.0 1,833 48 40.5

51 to 99 ........................................................ 1,228 20,665 28,668 6.5 780 50 31.5

100 ............................................................... 2,096 34,233 47,951 4.8 750 50 24.5

Building Never Open/

 Electricity Not Used .................................... 464 3,080 261 4.0 1,250 50 39.5

Percent Lit When Closed

Zero ............................................................. 2,174 20,771 21,669 4.8 1,000 45 31.5

1 to 50 .......................................................... 1,688 30,950 41,943 6.5 769 55 30.5

51 to 100 ...................................................... 143 2,160 3,096 4.5 833 68 23.5

Building Never Closed/

 Electricity Not Used .................................... 652 13,457 15,143 5.0 1,063 168 30.5

Heating Equipment (more

than one may apply)

Heat Pumps ................................................. 492 8,923 12,616 5.0 625 50 21.5

Furnaces ...................................................... 1,460 14,449 15,845 5.0 1,000 48 36.5

Individual Space Heaters ............................ 894 17,349 19,140 6.0 1,196 50 32.5

District Heat ................................................. 96 5,534 8,116 18.7 1,500 70 40.5

Boilers ......................................................... 581 19,522 24,374 10.0 1,053 55 40.5

Packaged Heating Units .............................. 1,347 25,743 32,224 6.0 750 52 24.5

Other ............................................................ 185 4,073 7,008 4.5 1,000 52 28.5

Cooling Equipment (more

than one may apply)

Residential-Type Central

 Air Conditioners .......................................... 676 8,329 10,136 5.5 1,125 50 28.5

Heat Pumps ................................................. 485 9,147 13,463 5.0 648 50 23.5

Individual Air Conditioners ........................... 799 14,276 16,652 6.0 833 50 40.5

District Chilled Water ................................... 50 2,750 4,637 18.7 1,375 84 27.5

Central Chillers ............................................ 130 12,909 21,586 40.0 938 56 27.5

Packaged Air Conditioning

 Units ........................................................... 1,953 36,527 48,283 6.0 750 53 26.5

Swamp Coolers ........................................... 136 2,219 2,425 4.8 1,167 62 37.5

Other ............................................................ 49 1,312 1,838 7.0 1,250 55 21.5

Main Equipment Replaced Since

1995 (more than one may apply)

Heating ........................................................ 984 13,220 16,913 5.5 800 50 33.5

Cooling ........................................................ 1,085 17,390 23,164 6.0 833 53 31.5

Lighting Equipment Types

(more than one may apply)

Incandescent ............................................... 2,193 38,156 49,616 6.0 950 50 32.5

Standard Fluorescent .................................. 3,778 60,344 77,862 5.5 850 50 29.5

Compact Fluorescent .................................. 607 20,666 30,075 8.5 833 60 27.5

High Intensity Discharge .............................. 430 19,223 21,658 13.8 1,286 55 24.5

Halogen ....................................................... 572 17,926 25,668 8.0 813 56 27.5

Other ............................................................ 58 1,004 1,393 4.0 500 64 23.5

Water Heating Equipment

Centralized System ..................................... 2,472 35,579 45,136 5.5 857 54 30.5

Distributed System ...................................... 566 10,899 14,348 6.0 667 50 26.5

Combination of Centralized

 and Distributed System .............................. 200 9,637 13,902 15.0 833 62 24.5

Energy Information Administration

1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey: Building Characteristics Tables 9
All Buildings 

(thousand)

Total 

Floorspace 

(million 

square feet)

Total Workers 

in All 

Buildings 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Building 

(thousand)

Median 

Square Feet 

per Worker

Median Hours 

per Week

Median Age of

Buildings 

(years)

Table B2. Summary Table: Totals and Medians of Floorspace, Number of Workers, 

Hours of Operation, and Age of Building, 1999

Personal Computers

None ............................................................ 1,617 9,583 4,785 3.8 1,500 50 35.5

1 to 4 ............................................................ 1,636 13,853 12,711 4.8 1,000 52 34.5

5 to 9 ............................................................ 542 6,528 7,485 5.0 571 50 23.5

10 to 19 ........................................................ 403 7,514 9,200 9.0 563 50 19.5

20 to 49 ........................................................ 247 8,087 9,668 16.2 600 50 28.5

50 to 99 ........................................................ 105 5,867 7,268 35.0 707 50 23.5

100 to 249 .................................................... 71 6,818 9,574 65.0 606 60 25.5

250 or More ................................................. 36 9,088 21,162 150.0 389 72 25.5

Photocopiers

None ............................................................ 2,825 21,631 18,897 4.0 1,143 50 34.5

One .............................................................. 1,114 12,928 12,963 6.0 818 50 28.5

2 to 4 ............................................................ 540 15,620 16,785 12.5 650 50 25.5

5 to 9 ............................................................ 102 5,384 8,217 23.7 432 52 15.5

10 or More ................................................... 75 11,774 24,991 75.0 429 60 21.5

Other Electronic Equipment

(more than one may apply)

Laser Printers .............................................. 1,949 46,567 66,979 7.5 667 50 27.5

FAX Machines ............................................. 2,807 54,764 74,706 6.0 750 50 27.5

Medical Diagnostic Equipment .................... 86 2,493 5,625 5.0 500 48 22.5

Energy-Related Space Functions

(more than one may apply)

Commercial Food Preparation .................... 767 23,328 30,350 6.5 750 77 28.5

Activities with Large

 Amounts of Hot Water ................................ 698 21,793 25,850 9.5 921 77 29.5

Building Shell Conservation

Features (more than one

may apply)

Multipaned Windows ................................... 2,130 38,193 49,935 6.0 833 50 26.5

Tinted, Reflective, or

 Shading Glass ............................................ 1,283 29,915 43,137 6.5 800 50 24.5

HVAC Conservation Features

(more than one may apply)

Variable Air-Volume System ....................... 550 19,387 30,546 9.0 804 61 22.5

Economizer Cycle ........................................ 567 21,256 32,923 8.5 667 60 23.5

HVAC Maintenance ..................................... 2,786 53,395 71,290 6.0 833 52 28.5

Energy Management and

 Control System (EMCS) ............................. 460 21,613 31,767 13.8 846 56 28.5

Lighting Conservation Features

(more than one may apply)

Specular Reflectors ..................................... 843 19,994 28,787 6.0 750 54 26.5

Electronic Ballasts ....................................... 2,167 42,035 55,879 6.0 857 54 28.5

Skylights or Atriums ..................................... 580 18,286 21,158 8.5 833 50 23.5

Off-Hour Equipment Reduction

(more than one may apply)

Heating ........................................................ 2,862 39,969 50,855 5.5 833 49 30.5

Cooling ........................................................ 2,622 39,161 52,130 5.5 792 50 29.5

Lighting ........................................................ 3,675 51,083 65,064 5.0 875 50 29.5

Office Equipment ......................................... 184 9,063 12,473 27.5 667 50 30.5

Q=Data withheld because the Relative Standard Error (RSE) was greater than 50 percent, or fewer than 20 buildings were sampled.

N=No responding cases in sample.

Note: Due to rounding, data may not sum to totals.

Source: Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Markets and End Use, Form EIA-871A of the 1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption 

Survey.

Energy Information Administration

1999 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey: Building Characteristics Tables 10