#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs

2018 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Consumption and Expenditures 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

Consumption and Expenditures Highlights

December 2022
U.S. Energy Information Administration

What is the Commercial Buildings 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

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 for 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 2018 CBECS consumption and expenditures results

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 4

Notes: These data are for reference year 2018 and do not reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. All data referenced in this document are available in the CBECS consumption and expenditures 

tables. 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.

• Despite no significant changes in energy consumption, commercial buildings overall consumed 12% less energy per square foot of 

floorspace in 2018 than in 2012. 

• Buildings used primarily for inpatient health care, outpatient health care, offices, and education had statistically significant decreases in 

energy intensity. 

• Electricity and natural gas continued to be the main energy sources for commercial buildings. Electricity accounted for 60% of energy 

consumed and natural gas for 34%. 

• Electricity accounted for the most energy consumed in every census region, and its share of energy consumption was highest in the South.

• Large buildings (over 100,000 square feet) were 2% of buildings but consumed over one-third of total energy in commercial buildings.

• Food service, food sales, and inpatient health care buildings were the most energy intensive; vacant, warehouse and storage, and religious 

worship buildings were the least energy intensive.

• Energy expenditures per British thermal unit of energy consumed were lowest for natural gas. 

• Space heating made up at least two-thirds of end-use consumption for natural gas, district heat, and fuel oil. Electricity was consumed most 

for cooling, ventilation, lighting, and other end uses.

• Space heating was the most energy-intensive end use, especially in colder climates. Office equipment and computing were the least 

intensive end uses.
Trends: Commercial Building Energy 

Consumption Over CBECS Survey Years
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

1979 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1999 2003 2012 2018

year of survey

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 6

• U.S. commercial buildings used 6,787 trillion 

British thermal units (TBtu) of all major fuels: 

4,081 TBtu of electricity, 2,300 TBtu of natural 

gas, 305 TBtu of district heat, and 101 TBtu of 

fuel oil.

• None of the changes in energy consumption 

between 2012 and 2018 were statistically 

significant.

• Since the first CBECS in 1979, consumption 

of all major fuels increased by 17%, electricity 

increased by 82%, and fuel oil decreased by 

87%. Neither natural gas nor district heat 

showed statistically significant changes.

Energy consumption by major fuel, 1979–2018

trillion British thermal units

all major fuels

electricity

natural gas

district heat

fuel oil

No significant changes in energy consumption of any source occurred from 2012 to 2018

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

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1979 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1999 2003 2012 2018

year of survey

Energy intensity continued to decrease in commercial buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 7

• Total floorspace in commercial buildings 

increased but energy consumption did not, 

meaning intensity (consumption per square 

foot) decreased.

• The major fuels energy intensity in 

commercial buildings decreased by 12% 

from the 2012 CBECS, from 80.0 thousand 

British thermal units per square foot 

(MBtu/sf) to 70.4 MBtu/sf.

• Electricity intensity decreased by 14%, and 

natural gas intensity decreased by 11% 

from 2012 to 2018.

Energy intensity by select fuels, 1979–2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

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

all major fuels

natural gas

electricity
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

food service

food sales

inpatient health care**

other

enclosed and strip malls

public order and safety

lodging

outpatient health care*

public assembly

average for all commercial bldgs**

office**

retail (other than mall)

education*

service

religious worship

warehouse and storage

vacant

Energy intensity decreased in several building types from 2012 to 2018

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 8

Major fuels intensity by principal building activity, 2012–2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• Inpatient health care, outpatient health care, 

office, and education buildings showed 

statistically significant decreases in the energy 

use per square foot of major fuels (electricity, 

natural gas, fuel oil, and district heat). 

• Energy intensity in inpatient health care 

buildings decreased by 16% from 2012 to 

2018, the largest intensity decrease of all the 

building types. 

• There were no statistically significant increases 

in energy intensity for any of the building types. 

2012

2018

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

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

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

Note: Building Type Definitions on the CBECS web page provides more information about the principal 

building activities.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electricity and natural gas continued to be the main energy sources for commercial buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 9

• Together, electricity and natural gas 

accounted for about 94% of energy 

consumed in 2018.

• Electricity increased its share of energy 

consumed from 38% in 1979 to 60% in 2018. 

• Natural gas continued to account for 

approximately one-third of energy 

consumption.

• Fuel oil’s share of energy consumption was 

1% in 2018, its smallest share since 1979, 

when CBECS began collecting data. 

Energy consumption by major fuel, 1979–2018

percentage

district heat

fuel oil

natural gas

electricity

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

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1979 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1999 2003 2012 2018
Snapshot: Commercial Building Energy 

Consumption in 2018
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Large buildings were fewer but consumed over one-third of energy 

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 11

Number of buildings, square footage, and energy consumption by square footage category, 2018

share of total

1,001 to 5,000 square feet

5,001 to 100,000 square feet

Over 100,000 square feet

• Buildings over 100,000 square feet accounted for 2% of all commercial buildings and 34% of total commercial floorspace. These

buildings consumed 2,659 TBtu, which was 39% of commercial building energy consumption.

• Small buildings (1,001 to 5,000 sf) accounted for almost half the building stock but used only 8% of the energy consumed.

5.9 million

number of buildings

96.4 billion 

total floorspace

in square feet

6,787 

trillion Btu 

total energy 

consumption

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The smallest buildings were more energy intensive than some larger buildings

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 12

Major fuels intensities by square footage category, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

1,001 to 5,000

5,001 to 10,000

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

• The smallest buildings (1,001 sf to 5,000 sf) had a 

significantly higher mean energy intensity than 

buildings between 5,001 sf and 25,000 sf. Many of 

the smallest buildings were in more energyintensive building categories, such as food service 

and food sales.

• Buildings that were 200,001 sf to 500,000 sf and 

over 500,000 sf were the most energy intensive 

(85.3 MBtu/sf and 83.7 MBtu/sf, respectively).

• The largest buildings (over 500,000 sf) had the 

widest distribution of intensities. 

25th percentile median 75th percentile Mean major fuels intensity

Distribution of major fuels building-level intensities

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

thousand Btu/square foot

71.7

58.5

58.1

68.7

70.2

73.8

85.3

83.7
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Food service, food sales, and inpatient health care buildings were the most energy intensive

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 13

• Food service, food sales, and inpatient health care 

buildings were the most energy intensive. These 

buildings also had the widest distribution of intensities.

• Vacant buildings were the least energy intensive, 

followed by warehouse and storage and religious worship 

buildings.

Major fuels intensities by principal building activity, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

education

food sales

food service

inpatient health care

lodging

enclosed and strip malls

office

public assembly

public order and safety

religious worship

service

warehouse and storage

other

vacant

Mean major fuels intensity 25th percentile median 75th percentile

outpatient health care

retail (other than mall)

Distribution of major fuels building-level intensities

62.7

232.0

263.3

193.3

85.7

64.1

65.6

81.1

86.3

35.3

50.9

30.2

134.8

16.8

82.0

111.0

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

0 100 200 300 400

thousand Btu/square foot 
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The newest buildings were the most energy intensive

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 14

Major fuels intensities and mean total floorspace by year of construction, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

Before 1960

1960 to 1999

2000 to 2018

25th percentile median 75th percentile

Distribution of major fuels building-level intensities

Mean major fuels intensity Mean floorspace

square feet

• Buildings constructed since 2000 had a significantly higher mean energy intensity (76.2 MBtu/sf). The newest buildings were also

significantly larger than all older buildings (averaging 19,000 sf). 

• The oldest buildings (constructed before 1960) were significantly smaller and less energy intensive than buildings constructed since 2000.

13,200

16,200

19,000

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

66.6

68.5

76.2

0 20 40 60 80 100

thousand Btu/square foot
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electricity accounted for the most energy consumed across all census regions

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 15

Energy consumption by fuel and region, 2018

British thermal units and share of total

1,226 

trillion Btu

Northeast

Midwest

2,348 

trillion Btu

West • The South consumed the most energy (2,348 TBtu) 

and had the largest share of electricity consumption of 

any census region (69%). 

• The Midwest consumed the second-largest amount of 

energy and had the largest share of natural gas 

consumption of any census region (42%). 

• The Northeast, where fuel oil was primarily used for 

space heating, was the only census region in which 

fuel oil accounted for more than 1% of energy 

consumption. 

• The Northeast and the West used similar amounts of 

energy.

South

electricity

natural gas

fuel oil

1,226 2,348 district heat

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

1,930 

trillion Btu

1,284 

trillion Btu
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The smallest and largest buildings had about the same electricity intensity

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 16

Electricity and natural gas intensities by square footage category, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• The smallest (1,001 sf to 5,000 sf) and largest 

(over 500,000 sf) buildings had about the same 

electricity intensity.

• The smallest buildings had a natural gas 

intensity that was almost double the intensity of 

the largest buildings, 55.7 MBtu/sf compared 

with 27.9 MBtu/sf. 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

thousand Btu/square foot

1,001 to 5,000

5,001 to 10,000

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

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

electricity natural gas
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

vacant

public order and safety

religious worship

outpatient health care

service

food sales

food service

inpatient health care

other

retail (other than mall)

public assembly

warehouse and storage

lodging

enclosed and strip malls

education

office

Offices consumed the most electricity, and education buildings consumed the most natural gas 

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 17

• Office buildings consumed the most electricity (775 

TBtu) and approximately three times more electricity 

than natural gas (250 TBtu).

• Education buildings consumed the most natural gas 

(328 TBtu).

• Service, religious worship, public order and safety, 

and vacant were the only building types that did not 

use significantly more electricity than natural gas. 

Electricity and natural gas consumption by principal building activity, 2018

trillion British thermal units

electricity

natural gas

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

The difference in average electricity and natural gas intensities varied across building types

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 18

Electricity and natural gas intensities by principal building activity, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• Food sales buildings had a much higher electricity 

intensity than natural gas intensity, but these two 

intensities were almost the same for food service 

buildings. 

• Other types of buildings, which include laboratories 

and data centers, had a higher electricity intensity 

than natural gas.

• Service, vacant, and religious worship buildings used 

natural gas more intensively than electricity.

0 50 100 150 200

thousand Btu/square foot

electricity

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

education

food sales

food service

inpatient health care

lodging

enclosed and strip malls

office

public assembly

public order and safety

religious worship

service

warehouse and storage

other

vacant

outpatient health care

retail (other than mall)

natural gas
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Electricity intensity was higher in hotter climates, and natural gas intensity was higher in colder climates

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 19

Electricity intensity by climate zone, 2018

kilowatthours per square foot

Natural gas intensity by climate zone, 2018

cubic feet per square foot

• Commercial buildings in the hot or very hot, warm, and mixed mild regions had 

significantly higher average electricity intensities than those in the cool region.

• Average natural gas intensities increased as climate zones became cooler. 

Commercial buildings in the cool and cold or very cold climate zones did not 

differ significantly in natural gas intensity.

U.S. climate zones (2018 CBECS)

Data source: ANSI/ASHRAE, Standard 169-2021, Climatic Data for Building Design 

Standards

Note: Adapted with permission from Figure A‐2, Climate zones for United States 

counties, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 169‐2021, Climatic Data for Building Design 

Standards, © 2021 ASHRAE.

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 

Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 

Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey

0 10 20 30 40

Cold or very cold

Cool

Mixed mild

Warm

Hot or very hot

cubic feet per square foot

Cold or very cold

Cool

Mixed mild

Warm

Hot or very hot

0 5 10 15

Cold or very cold

Cool

Mixed mild

Warm

Hot or very hot

kilowatthours per square foot
Snapshot: Commercial Building Energy 

Expenditures in 2018
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Commercial buildings spent $141 billion on energy in 2018, averaging $1.46 per square foot

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 21

• On average, a commercial building spent $23,900 on 

energy during 2018, ranging from $5,000 per building for 

the smallest buildings (1,001 to 5,000 sf) to $1.5 million per 

building for buildings over 500,000 sf.

• Energy expenditures averaged $1.46/sf and varied by 

principal building activity. Food sales and food service 

buildings spent more than $5.00/sf, and vacant, warehouse 

and storage, and religious worship buildings spent less than 

$0.75/sf.

• Commercial buildings spent $119 billion dollars on 

electricity, or 84% of their total energy expenditures. Natural 

gas accounted for 12% of total commercial building energy 

expenditures ($16 billion).

district heat

$4 billion, 3%

fuel oil

$2 billion,1%

natural gas

$16 billion 

12%

electricity

$119 billion

84%

$141 billion

total energy expenditures

$23,900

per building

$1.46

per square foot

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

Total commercial building energy expenditures by major fuel, 2018

billion dollars and share of total
U.S. Energy Information Administration

With primary electricity, shares of consumption and expenditures by fuel were similar

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 22

Energy consumption and expenditures by major fuel, 2018

trillion British thermal units and million dollars

• Energy consumption reflects different physical units (for 

example, kilowatthours, cubic feet, gallons, etc.) converted 

to a common unit of heat, called British thermal units (Btu). 

Btu conversion factors are based on the heat content of 

each fuel as it is consumed at the building site. 

• Primary electricity is site electricity (the amount of 

electricity that enters a building) plus the energy used to 

produce and deliver that electricity. 

• After adding the energy used to produce and deliver 

electricity, electricity’s share of consumption (81%) was 

closer to electricity’s share of expenditures (84%). 

• Because energy consumption was higher with primary 

electricity, natural gas’s share of consumption fell from 

34% to 16%, which was also closer to its share of energy 

expenditures (12%).

consumption

consumption

with primary 

electricity

expenditures

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

0 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 15,000

trillion Btu

$0 $30,000 $60,000 $90,000 $120,000 $150,000

million dollars

energy to produce and deliver electricity site electricity

electricity

natural gas 

fuel oil 

district heat
U.S. Energy Information Administration

$0 $5 $10 $15 $20 $25 $30

Energy expenditures per unit of consumption were lowest for natural gas

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 23

Energy expenditures per unit of consumption by major fuel

dollars per million British thermal units

• Commercial buildings spent $20.81 per million British 

thermal units (MMBtu) across all major fuels in 2018; 

natural gas cost the least at $7.08/MMBtu and site 

electricity cost the most at $29.16/MMBtu.

• Energy expenditures per unit of primary electricity 

($10.06/MMBtu) were approximately one-third of site 

electricity ($29.16/MMBtu) because primary electricity 

includes the energy used to produce and deliver 

electricity.

• Energy expenditures per unit for all major fuels fell by 

about half ($9.71/MMBtu) with consumption including 

primary electricity instead of site electricity. 

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

with site electricity

all major fuels

site electricity

natural gas

fuel oil

district heat

with primary electricity

electricity

primary electricity
Snapshot: Commercial Building End-Use 

Energy Consumption in 2018 

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

consumption for 10 specific end uses—space heating, cooling, ventilation, water heating, 

lighting, cooking, refrigeration, office equipment, computing, and other.
U.S. Energy Information Administration

office equipment, 1%

computing, 4%

water heating, 5%

refrigeration, 5%

cooking, 7%

cooling, 9%

lighting, 10%

ventilation, 11%

other, 16%

space heating, 32%

Space heating accounted for close to one-third of end-use consumption in 2018

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 25

• Space heating was the most common end use in 

commercial buildings. About 32% (2,167 TBtu) of 

energy was consumed for space heating.

• Other, ventilation, and lighting each accounted for 

10% or more of total energy consumption. Other end 

uses can include miscellaneous plug loads, process 

equipment, motors, air compressors, and natural gas 

dryers.

Major fuels consumption by end use, 2018

share of total

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

6,787 trillion Btu

total energy 

consumption
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The share of consumption by end use varied by the size of the building

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 26

• Larger buildings (over 100,000 sf) accounted for 

more than one-third of end-use consumption for 

every end use except refrigeration. These buildings 

made up at least one-half of ventilation and 

computing end-use consumption. Only 2% of 

commercial buildings are larger than 100,000 sf.

• Buildings that were less than 10,000 sf accounted for 

30% of cooking and 33% of refrigeration end-use 

consumption. Many buildings of this size were food 

sales and food service buildings.

Major fuels consumption by end use and square footage category, 2018

percentage

1,001 to 5,000

5,001 to 10,000

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

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

space heating

cooling

ventilation

water heating

lighting

cooking

refrigeration

office equipment

computing

other

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

End-use consumption varies greatly among building activities

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 27

Major fuels consumption by principal building activity and end use, 2018

percentage

• Space heating accounted for the largest share of enduse consumption for many building activities. Service 

buildings were the only activity where space heating 

accounted for more than one-half of their end-use 

consumption.

• Food sales buildings had the largest share of end-use 

consumption dedicated to refrigeration (38%), and 

food service buildings had the largest share of enduse consumption dedicated to cooking (40%).

• Computing, which includes personal computers, 

laptops, tablets, monitors, and servers, accounted for 

one-fourth of end-use consumption in other buildings. 

Other building activities include data centers, which 

centralize a large amount of computing. 

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

Q = Data withheld because the relative standard error was greater than 50% or the reporting sample had fewer 

than 20 buildings. Water heating, computing, and other end uses were withheld for food sales buildings. Water 

heating and cooking were withheld for vacant buildings.

space heating

cooling

ventilation

water heating

lighting

cooking

refrigeration

office equipment

computing

other

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

education

food sales

food service

inpatient health care

outpatient health care

lodging

retail (other than mall)

enclosed and strip malls

office

public assembly

public order and safety

religious worship

service

warehouse and storage

other

vacant

Q

Q
U.S. Energy Information Administration

The share of energy for space heating was highest in the Midwest and Northeast

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 28

Major fuels consumption by region and end use, 2018

percentage

• In both the Midwest and the Northeast, the share 

of energy used for space heating was more than 

40%. In both the South and West, only about onequarter of energy was for space heating.

• The South had the largest share of energy used 

for cooling (15%). None of the other regions used 

more than 6% of energy for cooling.

• All regions used approximately one-tenth of 

energy for lighting.

• The West had the largest share of energy used for 

cooking (10%).

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

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

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

space heating

cooling

ventilation

water heating

lighting

cooking

refrigeration

office equipment

computing

other
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Space heating was the most energy intensive end use, and office equipment was the least

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 29

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

space 

heating cooling computing water heating lighting cooking refrigeration office equipment ventilation other

• Space heating was the most energy-intensive end use. It consumed 25.0 MBtu/sf in 2018. Other and cooking were the second and third 

most energy intensive end uses (11.4 MBtu/sf).

• Office equipment was the least energy intensive, consuming 0.5 MBtu/sf. The non-computer-based office equipment includes copiers, 

printers, fax machines, cash registers, and video displays.

Major fuels energy intensity by end use, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

25.0 7.0 8.0 4.0 7.5 11.4 4.8

0.5

3.1 11.4
U.S. Energy Information Administration

For the smallest buildings, cooking was more energy intensive than space heating

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 30

Major fuels energy intensity by square footage category and selected end uses, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• For buildings that were 1,001 sf to 5,000 sf, the cooking energy intensity was 37.7 MBtu/sf and space heating energy intensity was 27.0 

MBtu/sf.

• Cooking energy intensity in smaller buildings (less than 10,000 sf) was at least twice as intensive than buildings in every other square 

footage category.

• Space heating energy intensities were similar across square footage categories. Energy intensities ranged from 22.8 MBtu/sf (5,001 sf to 

10,000 sf) to 28.1 MBtu/sf (200,001 sf to 500,000 sf).

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

0 10 20 30

ventilation

0 10 20 30 40

space heating

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0

water heating

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0

lighting

1,001 to 5,000

5,001 to 10,000

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

0 10 20 30 40

cooking

0 10 20 30

cooling

0 10 20 30 0 10 0 10 20 0 10 0 10
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

thousand Btu per square foot

Space heating was the most energy intensive for inpatient health care buildings 

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 31

Major fuels energy intensity by principal building activity and selected end uses, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• At 62.6 MBtu/sf, space heating was the most energy 

intensive for inpatient health care buildings. Inpatient 

health care buildings also had the highest ventilation 

energy intensity (28.6 MBtu/sf).

• Food service buildings had the highest cooling energy 

intensity (19.1 MBtu/sf).

education

food sales

food service

inpatient health care

lodging

enclosed and strip malls

office

public assembly

public order and safety

religious worship

service

warehouse and storage

other

vacant

outpatient health care

retail (other than mall)

space heating

cooling

ventilation

lighting

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Space heating was the most energy-intensive end use, especially in colder climates

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 32

Note: Climate affects energy consumption for the end uses selected. 

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

Major fuels energy intensity by climate zone and selected end uses, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• Buildings in cold and very cold climates were more than five times more energy intensive for space heating (36.1 MBtu/sf) than buildings 

in hot or very hot climates (6.3 MBtu/sf).

• Cooling energy intensity was higher in warmer climates. Buildings in hot or very hot climates consumed more than six times more energy 

for cooling (14.2 MBtu/sf) than buildings in cold or very cold climates (2.3 MBtu/sf).

• Ventilation and water heating energy intensities were similar across climate zones. 

0 10 20 30 40

space heating

0 10 20 30 40

cooling

0 10 20 30 40

ventilation

0 10 20 30 40

water heating

Cold or very cold

Cool

Mixed mild

Warm

Hot or very hot

0 10 20 0 10 0 10
U.S. Energy Information Administration

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500

electricity

natural gas

district heat

fuel oil

Space heating was the most prevalent end use for all fuels except electricity

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 33

Energy consumption by major fuel and end use, 2018

trillion British thermal units

• Although electricity was the most-used energy source 

(4,081 TBtu), only 239 TBtu (6%) of electricity was 

used for space heating.

• Electricity was consumed most for cooling, 

ventilation, lighting, and other end uses, each 

accounting for over 14% of electricity consumption. 

• Natural gas, district heat, and fuel oil had fewer end 

uses, and space heating made up at least two-thirds 

of end-use consumption for each fuel except 

electricity.

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

Note: The other end use category is shown differently here for natural gas, district heat, and fuel oil than for 

electricity. For natural gas and district heat, the other category includes cooling and all other end uses. For fuel 

oil, it includes cooling, cooking, and all other end uses.

space heating

cooling

ventilation

water heating

lighting

cooking

refrigeration

office equipment

computing

other
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Cooling was mostly powered by electricity, while natural gas was used most for heat-related end uses

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 34

Energy consumption by major fuel and selected end uses, 2018

share of total

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

Note: Btu = British thermal units

cooling space heating water heating cooking

electricity

natural gas

fuel oil

district heat

2,167 

trillion Btu

589 

trillion Btu

343 

trillion Btu

485 

trillion Btu

• Electricity accounted for most of the energy used for cooling (98%).

• Natural gas accounted for at least two-thirds of space heating (73%), water heating (67%), and cooking (81%) end-use consumption.

Note: 2018 CBECS did not collect energy consumption data for propane or district chilled water. Propane was reported for space heating in 7% of buildings, accounting for 4% of floorspace. District chilled 

water was reported for cooling in 1% of buildings, accounting for 4% of floorspace.

electricity

all other fuels
U.S. Energy Information Administration

Space heating energy intensities were highest for district heat and natural gas

#CBECS2018 | www.eia.gov/cbecs 35

Energy intensity by fuel and selected end uses, 2018

thousand British thermal units per square foot

• Buildings that used district heat for space heating 

consumed 41.2 MBtu/sf and were approximately 50% 

more energy intensive than buildings that heated with 

natural gas (27.2 MBtu/sf). 

• Space heating intensity was the lowest for electricity 

(5.2 MBtu/sf for electricity as it enters a building and 

15.1 MBtu/sf when also including the energy 

consumed to produce and deliver electricity).

• Energy intensities for cooking were the highest for 

natural gas (14.2 MBtu/sf ). Cooking intensities for 

electricity were second highest (2.9 MBtu/sf for site 

electricity and 8.4 MBtu/sf for primary electricity).

site electricity

primary electricity

natural gas

fuel oil

district heat

space heating

water heating

cooking

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

Note: Intensity calculation is conditional on the presence of the energy source and end use. Energy intensity 

is calculated as the consumption of the fuel for the end use divided by the floorspace in buildings that use the 

fuel for the particular end use. Site electricity is the amount of electricity that enters a building. Primary 

electricity is site electricity plus the energy used to produce and deliver that electricity. 

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0
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

• 2018 building characteristics flipbook

https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/data/2018/pdf/CBECS_2018_Building_Characteristics_Flipbook.pdf

• 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

#CBECS | www.eia.gov/cbecs 37
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 38