Release date: February 2015

Revised date: May 2016

All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Building floorspace (square feet)

1,001 to 10,000 4,007 356 154 62 N 113 61

10,001 to 100,000 1,415 24 22 84 5 32 20

Over 100,000 136 N Q 12 5 2 2

Year constructed

Before 1946 850 70 Q 16 Q Q Q

1946 to 1979 1,922 125 59 68 5 53 26

1980 to 1999 1,760 119 70 49 2 53 31

2000 to 2012 1,025 65 33 25 2 26 23

Census region

Northeast 805 62 27 27 2 21 14

Midwest 1,237 77 34 23 2 42 19

South 2,247 160 81 69 4 50 39

West 1,267 80 35 38 2 35 Q

Climate region1

Very cold/Cold 2,031 128 64 50 3 60 25

Mixed-humid 1,743 141 61 48 2 39 31

Mixed-dry/Hot-dry 837 51 Q 27 Q 17 Q

Hot-humid 799 49 33 31 3 28 Q

Marine 147 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Number of floors

One 3,836 284 140 49 Q 89 59

Two 1,158 60 23 53 Q 46 17

Three 374 29 Q 23 1 Q Q

Four to nine 177 Q N 30 4 2 Q

Ten or more 13 N N 3 1 Q Q

Elevators and escalators 

(more than one may apply)

Any elevators 405 Q Q 46 7 22 9

Number of elevators

One 272 Q Q 25 Q 16 Q

Two to five 118 Q N 18 3 5 Q

Six or more 16 N N 2 3 1 Q

Any escalators 10 N Q 1 (*) Q Q

Number of workers (main shift)

Fewer than 10 3,977 255 150 102 N 80 40

10 to 99 1,450 123 26 50 Q 60 42

100 or more 131 Q Q 6 6 8 2

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Weekly operating hours

Fewer than 49 2,495 58 Q Q N 79 28

49 to 84 2,008 166 31 N N 61 Q

85 to 167 479 131 94 Q N Q N

Open continuously 575 24 49 153 10 Q 54

Ownership and occupancy

Nongovernment owned 4,781 364 177 151 7 138 Q

Owner occupied 2,466 202 93 119 5 74 Q

Leased to tenant(s) 1,745 157 69 29 Q 43 Q

Owner occupied and leased 349 Q Q 3 1 21 Q

Unoccupied 221 N N N N N N

Government owned 776 Q N 7 2 9 70

Federal 33 N N N (*) Q Q

State 185 Q N Q Q Q Q

Local 558 Q N Q 2 Q 64

Party responsible for operation

and maintenance of energy

systems

Building owner 4,715 292 129 153 9 129 76

Business owner or tenant 724 75 44 Q Q Q Q

Property management 54 Q Q Q Q Q N

Other 64 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Provider of direct input on energyrelated equipment purchases

Building owner 4,876 302 135 154 9 131 75

Business owner or tenant 540 59 36 Q Q Q Q

Property management 35 Q Q Q Q Q N

Other 106 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Number of establishments

One 4,205 346 150 146 8 105 70

2 to 5 862 33 27 12 2 37 14

6 to 10 147 Q Q Q Q Q N

11 to 20 68 N N Q Q Q N

More than 20 27 N N Q Q Q N

Currently unoccupied 248 N N N N N N
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Campus or complex activity

Not part of a campus or complex 3,683 315 164 69 4 105 65

Primary or secondary school 237 Q N Q N N N

College or university 84 Q N 15 Q Q Q

Office complex 154 Q N N N Q Q

Retail complex 258 28 Q Q N Q N

Storage complex 314 Q N N N N N

Religious campus or complex 197 Q N Q N N N

Health care complex 52 Q N 7 5 19 N

Lodging or resort complex 65 Q N 48 N N N

Transportation complex 35 N N N N N N

Government complex 104 N N Q N Q Q

Other 371 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Predominant exterior wall material

Brick, stone, or stucco 2,312 202 69 91 5 87 43

Concrete (block or poured) 1,121 72 44 28 2 25 18

Concrete panels 210 Q Q 4 1 Q Q

Siding or shingles 905 76 37 31 Q 23 Q

Metal panels 933 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Window glass 17 Q Q Q Q Q N

Other 37 Q Q Q Q Q N

No one major type 21 N Q Q Q N N

Predominant roof material

Metal surfacing 1,672 71 48 23 Q 22 33

Synthetic or rubber 911 75 40 25 4 26 7

Built-up 836 63 Q 15 3 25 10

Slate or tile shingles 406 36 Q 21 Q Q Q

Wooden materials (including

shingles) 157 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Asphalt, fiberglass, or 

other shingles 1,483 110 39 66 1 55 25

Concrete 51 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Other 24 Q N Q N Q N

No one major type 18 Q Q Q Q N Q

Roof characteristics

Roof tilt

Flat 1,960 171 80 57 8 60 23

Shallow pitch 2,148 125 73 38 Q 51 Q

Steeper pitch 1,449 84 Q 63 Q 36 37

Cool roof 740 49 25 20 4 13 10
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Renovations in buildings

constructed before 2008

(more than one may apply)

Any type of renovation 2,094 155 65 80 7 82 35

Addition or annex 444 33 Q 17 5 15 Q

Reduction in floorspace 71 Q Q Q (*) Q Q

Roof replacement 987 64 Q 40 3 28 21

Exterior wall replacement 194 Q Q 10 1 Q Q

Interior wall reconfiguration 889 70 Q 32 3 53 13

Window replacement 560 48 Q 29 2 18 Q

HVAC equipment upgrade 1,101 83 28 39 5 47 11

Lighting upgrade 982 78 44 42 4 36 12

Electrical upgrade 747 70 Q 29 4 29 Q

Plumbing system upgrade 644 74 Q 40 3 29 Q

Insulation upgrade 382 34 Q 14 1 Q Q

Fire, safety, or security upgrade 616 62 Q 36 4 22 Q

Structural upgrade 152 21 Q Q (*) Q Q

Other 39 N N Q Q Q Q

No renovations 3,160 201 98 70 2 57 43

Buildings constructed 2008 or later 303 Q Q 9 1 Q Q

Energy sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity 5,234 380 177 158 10 147 84

Natural gas 2,933 283 82 99 8 87 53

Fuel oil 467 Q Q 28 9 15 34

District heat 48 Q N 4 1 Q Q

District chilled water 54 Q N Q 1 Q Q

Propane 510 47 Q 26 2 Q Q

Other 172 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Space-heating energy sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity 2,858 202 123 116 4 87 44

Natural gas 2,612 207 63 64 5 80 47

Fuel oil 270 Q Q Q 2 Q Q

District heat 48 Q N 4 1 Q Q

Propane 342 25 Q Q Q Q Q

Other 101 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Primary space-heating 

energy source

Electricity 1,819 146 88 93 Q 58 Q

Natural gas 2,322 183 56 45 5 77 45

Fuel oil 205 Q Q Q Q Q Q

District heat 47 Q N 4 1 Q Q

Propane 261 Q Q Q N Q Q

Other 67 Q Q Q Q Q Q
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Cooling energy sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity 4,413 356 165 142 9 143 74

Natural gas 12 N N Q (*) Q Q

District chilled water 54 Q N Q 1 Q Q

Water-heating energy sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity 2,658 155 115 55 2 90 46

Natural gas 1,758 216 59 91 7 58 28

Fuel oil 77 Q Q Q 1 Q Q

District heat 25 Q N 3 1 Q Q

Propane 142 27 Q Q Q Q Q

Cooking energy sources

(more than one may apply)

Electricity 1,010 183 79 52 5 13 38

Natural gas 740 246 38 49 7 Q 16

Propane 144 40 Q 14 Q Q Q

Energy end uses

(more than one may apply)

Buildings with space heating 4,722 359 160 153 9 144 81

Buildings with cooling 4,461 358 165 145 10 145 74

Buildings with water heating 4,423 379 177 158 10 146 80

Buildings with cooking 1,589 353 111 94 9 13 56

Buildings with manufacturing 259 Q Q Q Q Q N

Buildings with electricity

generation 410 Q 16 34 9 19 59

Percent of floorspace heated

Not heated 835 Q Q Q Q Q Q

1 to 50 697 37 Q Q Q Q Q

51 to 99 727 63 46 15 1 12 Q

100 3,298 260 105 128 8 121 66

Percent of floorspace cooled

Not cooled 1,096 Q Q Q N Q Q

1 to 50 1,173 41 Q 11 Q Q 32

51 to 99 897 85 46 37 2 29 16

100 2,391 233 99 97 7 107 26

Percent lit when open

Zero 70 N N Q N N N

1 to 50 1,099 57 Q 51 Q Q Q

51 to 99 1,666 104 54 47 3 65 24

100 2,222 219 104 60 7 67 32

Building never open/electricity

not used 501 N N N N N Q
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Percent lit during off hours

Zero 2,489 136 Q Q Q 67 Q

1 to 50 2,441 214 99 91 6 79 46

51 to 100 202 26 28 35 3 Q Q

Building always open with 

no "off hours" 102 Q Q 16 1 N Q

Electricity not used 323 N N N N N N

Heating equipment 

(more than one may apply)

Heat pumps 628 32 Q 39 2 21 Q

Furnaces 755 53 Q 21 (*) 22 Q

Individual space heaters 1,247 52 31 60 2 29 24

District heat 48 Q N 4 1 Q Q

Boilers 544 23 Q 38 6 17 14

Packaged heating units 2,802 251 111 55 5 97 43

Other 62 Q Q Q Q N Q

Cooling equipment 

(more than one may apply)

Residential-type central air

conditioners 1,546 110 64 34 Q 57 23

Heat pumps 692 37 Q 36 2 26 Q

Individual air conditioners 709 48 Q 71 2 Q Q

District chilled water 54 Q N Q 1 Q Q

Central chillers 163 Q Q 11 6 10 4

Packaged air conditioning units 1,909 188 76 40 6 66 32

Swamp coolers 109 21 Q Q Q Q Q

Other Q N N Q Q Q Q

Main equipment replaced since 

1990 (more than one may apply)

Heating 1,874 156 44 74 4 57 25

Cooling 1,971 172 57 80 5 70 26

Water-heating equipment

Centralized system 3,348 307 155 132 6 118 72

Distributed system 690 33 Q 7 Q 21 Q

Combination of centralized and

distributed system 385 39 Q 19 2 Q Q
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Lighting equipment types

(more than one may apply)

Incandescent 1,826 174 49 68 7 62 22

Standard fluorescent 4,649 352 169 125 10 139 72

Compact fluorescent 2,302 237 69 132 9 80 37

High-intensity discharge (HID) 525 17 Q 18 4 11 8

Halogen 905 91 23 37 4 33 10

LED 473 42 27 23 4 13 Q

Other 10 Q N Q Q N N

Refrigeration equipment

(more than one may apply)

Any refrigeration 3,984 380 175 144 10 132 78

Walk-in units 811 293 145 37 8 Q Q

Cases or cabinets 915 260 140 34 6 11 Q

Large cold storage areas 78 Q 19 Q 1 Q Q

Commercial ice makers 846 259 85 61 9 9 21

Residential-type or compact units 3,388 201 58 126 9 131 71

Vending machines 960 42 44 68 9 27 24

No refrigeration 1,573 N Q Q N Q Q

Office equipment

(more than one may apply)

Desktop computers 3,977 264 126 107 10 146 75

With flat screen monitors 3,847 246 121 103 10 146 73

With multiple monitors 911 42 Q 11 6 35 22

Laptop computers 2,730 142 59 85 9 101 56

Dedicated servers 1,748 85 55 47 8 88 24

Laser printers 2,339 108 73 66 8 103 36

Inkjet printers 2,187 180 59 55 5 75 44

FAX machines 3,185 182 107 85 9 128 50

Photocopiers 2,163 49 40 61 9 97 36

Number of desktop computers

None 1,581 116 51 51 N Q Q

1 to 4 2,039 230 102 52 N 51 50

5 to 9 821 31 Q 20 Q 31 Q

10 to 19 482 Q Q 11 Q 31 Q

20 to 49 355 Q Q 19 Q 19 Q

50 to 99 143 N N 3 Q 9 Q

100 to 249 92 N N Q 3 3 Q

250 or more 44 N N Q 4 1 Q
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Number of laptop computers

None 2,827 238 118 73 Q 46 27

1 to 4 1,944 132 56 44 Q 59 42

5 to 9 350 Q Q 13 Q 22 Q

10 to 19 181 Q N 7 2 13 Q

20 to 49 144 N N 7 1 4 Q

50 to 99 58 N N Q 1 Q Q

100 to 249 35 N N Q 1 Q Q

250 or more 20 N N Q 1 Q Q

Number of dedicated servers

None 3,809 294 121 111 1 59 60

1 to 4 1,562 82 55 44 3 82 19

5 to 9 97 Q N Q 1 Q Q

10 to 19 50 N N Q 1 Q Q

20 to 49 25 N N Q 1 Q Q

50 or more 13 N N Q 2 Q Q

Number of photocopiers

None 3,394 331 137 97 Q 50 48

One 1,325 42 35 35 Q 55 24

2 to 4 648 Q Q 22 Q 33 Q

5 to 9 116 N Q 2 2 Q Q

10 or more 75 N N 1 5 6 4

Number of TVs or video displays

None 2,718 111 80 Q Q 42 Q

One 1,145 78 50 Q N 33 Q

2 to 4 1,035 114 35 16 Q 48 30

5 to 9 314 56 Q Q Q 18 Q

10 to 19 154 16 Q 16 Q Q Q

20 to 49 106 Q Q 27 1 2 Q

50 to 99 48 Q N 25 3 Q Q

100 or more 37 N N 28 4 Q Q

Food preparation or serving areas 

in non-food service buildings

(more than one may apply)

Snack bar or concession stand 153 N 40 7 2 Q Q

Fast food or small restaurant 173 N 41 6 (*) Q Q

Cafeteria or large restaurant 130 N Q 13 6 Q Q

Commercial kitchen/

food preparation area 282 N 18 46 5 Q 9

Small kitchen area 736 N 33 50 3 12 48
All

buildings

Food

service

Food 

sales Lodging

InpatientOutpatient

All buildings 5,557 380 177 158 10 147 84

Table B13. Selected principal building activity: part 2, number of buildings, 2012

Number of buildings (thousand)

Principal building activity

Health care

Public

order and

safety

Separate computer areas

(more than one may apply)

Data center or server farm 97 Q N 2 4 Q Q

Computer-based training room 244 Q Q 5 5 5 Q

Student or public computer center 238 Q Q 19 2 Q Q

HVAC conservation features 

(more than one may apply)

Economizer cycle 601 51 Q 19 6 23 12

Regular HVAC maintenance 3,178 260 115 110 9 104 55

Building automation system (BAS)2 781 38 29 19 7 33 13

Window and interior lighting 

features (more than one may

apply)

Multipaned windows 3,012 232 96 102 8 101 56

Tinted window glass 1,875 135 62 47 7 67 29

Reflective window glass 549 33 Q 10 3 21 Q

External overhangs or awnings 1,867 198 86 62 4 65 13

Skylights or atriums 591 19 Q 20 3 21 Q

Light scheduling 918 73 38 28 2 23 10

Occupancy sensors 813 43 28 27 6 24 18

Multi-level lighting or dimming 349 58 Q 17 2 Q Q

Daylight harvesting 125 Q Q Q 1 Q Q

Demand responsive lighting 176 Q Q Q Q Q Q

Building automation system (BAS) for 

lighting2 208 Q Q 2 (*) Q Q

Equipment usage reduced when 

building not in full use 

(more than one may apply)

Heating 3,699 286 80 75 4 120 44

Cooling 3,517 286 77 70 4 122 46

Lighting 4,757 358 141 123 8 147 62

 1These climate regions were created by the Building America program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy (EERE). 

 2

In earlier CBECS publications, BAS was referred to as Energy Management and Control System (EMCS) .

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

 N = No cases in reporting sample.

 (*) = Value rounds to zero in the units displayed.

 Notes: ● Because of rounding, data may not sum to totals. ● See Guide to the 2012 CBECS Detailed Tables or CBECS Terminology for definition 

of terms used in these tables and/or comparison of differences with prior CBECS tables. Both references can be accessed from 

http://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2012/

 Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency Statistics, Form EIA-871A of the 2012 Commercial 

Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.