Total................................................................. 111.1 26.7 28.8 20.6 13.1 22.0 16.6 38.6

Cooking Appliances

Frequency of Hot Meals Cooked

3 or More Times A Day.............................. 8.2 2.9 2.5 1.3 0.5 1.0 2.4 4.6

2 Times A Day........................................... 24.6 6.5 7.0 4.3 3.2 3.6 4.8 10.3

Once a Day................................................ 42.3 8.8 9.8 8.7 5.1 10.0 5.0 12.9

A Few Times Each Week........................... 27.2 5.6 7.2 4.7 3.3 6.3 3.2 7.5

About Once a Week................................... 3.9 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.4 1.4

Less Than Once a Week............................ 4.1 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.4

No Hot Meals Cooked................................ 0.9 0.5 Q Q Q Q 0.2 0.5

Conventional Oven

Use an Oven.............................................. 109.6 26.1 28.5 20.2 12.9 21.8 16.3 37.8

More Than Once a Day.......................... 8.9 2.3 2.1 1.8 1.0 1.7 1.9 3.7

Once a Day............................................ 19.2 3.5 5.2 3.7 2.4 4.4 2.3 6.2

Between Once a Day and Once a Week 32.0 5.5 8.0 6.3 4.2 8.0 3.3 8.9

Once a Week......................................... 19.1 4.7 5.4 3.4 2.4 3.3 2.8 6.5

Less than Once a Week......................... 30.3 10.0 7.8 5.1 3.0 4.4 5.9 12.5

Do Not Use an Oven.................................. 1.5 0.7 0.3 0.3 Q Q 0.4 0.8

Microwave Oven

Use a Microwave Oven.............................. 97.7 21.9 25.0 18.2 11.9 20.6 13.6 31.9

Most or all Food Cooked......................... 8.3 2.6 2.0 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.5 3.0

About Half of All Food Cooked............... 17.3 3.6 5.0 3.1 2.2 3.5 2.0 5.2

Some or Very Little Food Cooked........... 21.9 3.9 5.1 4.6 2.8 5.4 2.3 5.9

For Defrosting, Reheating, or Snacks..... 50.2 11.9 12.9 9.1 5.9 10.4 7.7 17.8

Do Not Use a Microwave Oven.................. 13.4 4.8 3.8 2.3 1.2 1.3 3.1 6.7

Electric Coffee Maker

Use an Electric Coffee Maker..................... 67.2 13.6 16.7 12.7 8.4 15.7 8.1 19.8

3 or More Times a Day........................... 2.5 0.8 0.8 0.5 Q 0.3 0.5 1.3

2 Times a Day........................................ 5.4 1.2 1.5 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 1.9

Once a Day............................................ 36.9 7.0 9.2 7.4 4.6 8.8 4.2 10.3

A Few Times Each Week....................... 9.7 1.7 2.3 1.7 1.3 2.7 1.0 2.5

About Once a Week............................... 5.0 0.9 1.2 0.7 0.8 1.4 0.4 1.3

Less Than Once a Week........................ 7.6 1.9 1.9 1.3 1.0 1.5 1.1 2.7

Do Not Use an Electric Coffee Maker......... 43.9 13.2 12.0 7.8 4.6 6.2 8.5 18.7

Time Coffee Maker is Left On

Turned off Right Away............................ 21.6 4.8 5.5 4.1 2.7 4.5 3.0 6.9

Less than 15 Minutes............................. 11.2 2.5 2.8 2.2 1.6 2.0 1.7 3.7

15 Minutes to 1 Hour.............................. 21.1 3.5 4.9 4.2 2.8 5.7 2.0 5.5

More Than 1 Hour.................................. 13.2 2.7 3.5 2.2 1.3 3.5 1.3 3.8

Table HC7.10 Home Appliances Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance $40,000 to 1

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

Home Appliances Usage Indicators $39,999

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics Tables
Table HC7.10 Home Appliances Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance $40,000 to 1

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

Home Appliances Usage Indicators $39,999

Electric Toaster Oven

Use an Electric Toaster Oven.................... 37.3 7.3 9.0 7.7 4.6 8.7 4.5 10.9

3 or More Times a Day........................... 0.9 Q Q Q Q 0.3 Q 0.3

2 Times a Day........................................ 3.2 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.3 0.8

Once a Day............................................ 9.0 1.8 2.2 1.8 1.0 2.3 1.1 2.6

A Few Times Each Week....................... 11.6 2.3 2.8 2.1 1.4 3.0 1.3 3.3

About Once a Week............................... 4.4 0.8 1.2 1.0 0.7 0.8 0.6 1.4

Less Than Once a Week........................ 8.1 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.0 1.4 1.0 2.4

Do Not Use an Electric Toaster Oven......... 73.8 19.4 19.8 12.9 8.5 13.3 12.2 27.6

Electric Toaster Oven Function

Used Only as a Toaster.......................... 22.0 4.1 5.2 4.6 2.6 5.5 3.1 6.7

Used Only as an Oven............................ 5.7 1.3 1.5 1.2 0.8 0.9 0.4 1.7

Used Both as a Toaster and an Oven..... 9.6 1.9 2.4 1.9 1.2 2.3 0.9 2.6

Refrigerators

Most-Used Refrigerator

Age of Most-Used Refrigerator

Less than 2 Years.................................. 19.0 4.4 4.5 3.3 2.4 4.3 3.2 6.4

2 to 4 Years............................................ 22.7 4.5 5.9 4.6 2.7 5.0 3.3 7.4

5 to 9 Years............................................ 30.9 6.3 8.2 6.2 3.9 6.4 3.9 9.5

10 to 19 Years........................................ 25.7 6.6 6.5 4.7 2.9 4.9 3.4 8.8

20 Years or More.................................... 6.1 1.8 1.9 1.0 0.6 0.8 1.0 2.3

Don't Know............................................. 6.7 3.1 1.9 0.8 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.1

Energy Star (Most-Used) Refrigerator1

Yes......................................................... 23.9 3.7 5.4 4.6 3.6 6.5 2.7 6.3

No.......................................................... 12.9 3.6 3.6 2.5 1.1 2.0 2.9 5.3

Don't Know............................................. 4.9 1.6 1.4 0.8 0.4 0.8 0.9 2.2

Unit is More Than 4 Years Old................ 69.4 17.8 18.4 12.6 7.9 12.7 10.2 24.8

Use a Second Refrigerator.......................... 24.6 2.4 4.9 4.5 3.8 9.0 1.5 4.5

Age of Second Refrigerator

Less than 2 Years.................................. 2.3 Q 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.8 Q 0.4

2 to 4 Years............................................ 3.8 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.4 0.3 0.9

5 to 9 Years............................................ 5.3 0.5 1.1 0.9 0.6 2.2 0.4 1.1

10 to 19 Years........................................ 8.6 0.8 1.4 1.6 1.3 3.4 0.4 1.4

20 Years or More.................................... 4.1 0.4 1.2 0.8 0.7 1.0 Q 0.6

Don't Know............................................. 0.5 Q Q Q Q QQ Q

Do Not Use a Second Refrigerator............. 86.3 24.3 23.8 16.1 9.2 13.0 15.1 33.9

Number of Months Turned on Each Year

1 to 3 Months.......................................... 1.9 0.4 0.4 Q 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7

4 to 6 Months.......................................... 0.9 Q Q Q Q 0.3 Q Q

7 to 11 Months........................................ 0.5 Q Q Q Q QQ Q

On all the Time....................................... 21.2 1.8 4.4 3.9 3.3 7.9 1.0 3.6

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics Tables
Table HC7.10 Home Appliances Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance $40,000 to 1

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

Home Appliances Usage Indicators $39,999

Dishwasher

Use a Dishwasher.......................................... 64.7 7.3 14.8 13.7 10.0 18.9 4.2 12.8

At Least Once Each Day............................ 11.3 0.7 2.5 2.1 1.6 4.4 0.6 2.4

4 to 6 Times a Week.................................. 11.7 0.7 1.7 2.6 2.3 4.4 0.5 1.6

2 to 3 Times a Week.................................. 21.8 2.0 5.5 4.4 3.0 6.8 1.1 3.4

Once each Week....................................... 9.0 1.3 2.1 2.2 1.6 1.8 0.6 1.8

Less than Once Each Week....................... 10.9 2.5 3.0 2.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 3.6

Do Not Use a Dishwasher.............................. 46.4 19.5 13.9 6.8 3.1 3.1 12.5 25.8

Energy Star Dishwasher1

Yes............................................................ 16.4 0.9 3.6 3.3 2.6 5.9 0.7 2.6

No.............................................................. 6.6 0.8 1.5 1.7 0.9 1.6 0.5 1.4

Don't Know................................................. 3.1 0.4 0.7 0.4 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.7

Unit is More Than 4 Years Old................... 38.6 5.1 9.0 8.3 5.9 10.4 2.7 8.1

Clothes Washers and Dryers

Clothes Washer

Use a Clothes Washer in the Home........... 91.8 17.2 23.1 18.4 12.1 21.0 10.3 26.7

1 Load Each Week................................. 7.3 2.8 2.4 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.2 3.1

2 to 5 Loads Each Week........................ 39.0 9.1 10.4 8.3 4.5 6.7 5.1 12.5

6 to 9 Loads Each Week........................ 33.8 4.0 7.6 6.9 5.4 10.0 2.6 7.7

10 to 15 Loads Each Week.................... 9.3 0.9 2.1 1.8 1.3 3.1 1.0 2.4

More than 15 Loads Each Week............ 2.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.5 1.0

Do Not Use a Clothes Washer in the Home 19.3 9.5 5.7 2.1 1.0 1.0 6.3 11.9

Usual Water Temperature Setting

Wash Cycle

Hot......................................................... 6.7 1.8 1.7 1.4 1.0 0.9 0.9 2.5

Warm..................................................... 50.5 9.0 12.5 10.0 6.7 12.3 5.1 13.7

Cold........................................................ 34.6 6.4 8.9 7.1 4.4 7.8 4.3 10.5

Rinse Cycle

Hot......................................................... 1.6 0.5 0.3 0.5 Q Q 0.3 0.6

Warm..................................................... 18.2 3.5 5.2 3.6 2.4 3.5 2.0 5.7

Cold........................................................ 72.0 13.3 17.5 14.4 9.5 17.3 8.0 20.4

Energy Star Clothes Washer1

Yes............................................................ 21.7 2.5 5.0 4.5 3.2 6.5 1.8 4.9

No.............................................................. 10.4 2.1 3.0 2.4 1.4 1.7 1.4 3.6

Don't Know................................................. 4.5 0.8 1.1 0.9 0.7 1.1 0.6 1.2

Unit is More Than 4 Years Old................... 55.1 11.9 13.9 10.7 6.8 11.7 6.6 17.0

Loads of Clothes Dried

Use a Clothes Dryer in the Home............... 87.5 15.1 21.8 17.8 11.9 20.9 8.9 23.8

Every Time Clothes are Washed............ 72.4 12.1 17.8 14.7 10.0 18.0 6.8 19.2

Some, but Not All, Loads........................ 12.4 2.3 3.2 2.7 1.6 2.6 1.5 3.6

Used Infrequently................................... 2.7 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 1.0

Do Not Use a Clothes Dryer in the Home... 23.6 11.7 7.0 2.7 1.1 1.0 7.8 14.8

Energy Information Administration

2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey: Preliminary Housing Characteristics Tables
Table HC7.10 Home Appliances Usage Indicators by Household Income, 2005

Below 

Poverty 

Line

Eligible for 

Federal 

Assistance $40,000 to 1

$59,999

$60,000 to 

$79,999

$80,000 or 

More

 Million U.S. Housing Units

2005 Household Income

Housing 

Units 

(millions)

Less than 

$20,000

$20,000 to 

Home Appliances Usage Indicators $39,999

Other Appliances

Ceiling Fans

1................................................................. 21.7 6.7 5.8 3.9 2.1 3.1 4.1 8.8

2................................................................. 17.4 3.5 4.8 3.7 1.8 3.6 2.0 5.5

3................................................................. 12.3 2.1 3.3 2.7 2.0 2.2 1.4 3.5

4 or More.................................................... 25.8 2.8 5.8 5.5 3.8 7.9 1.4 5.1

Use of Most-Used Ceiling Fan

Used All Summer................................... 18.7 4.2 4.9 4.1 2.1 3.4 2.4 6.3

Used Quite a Bit..................................... 16.2 3.4 3.8 3.3 2.3 3.4 2.0 4.9

Used Only a Few Days or Nights............ 39.3 6.6 10.3 8.0 4.9 9.5 4.0 10.6

Not Used at All....................................... 2.9 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.5 1.1

Battery-Operated Appliances/Tools

Use Battery-Operated Appliances/Tools.... 54.9 6.5 12.7 11.9 8.0 15.8 3.8 11.8

Plugged in All the Time........................... 10.0 1.0 2.1 2.1 1.6 3.3 0.5 1.8

Recharged as Needed............................ 41.6 5.1 9.8 9.3 6.0 11.3 3.2 9.4

Both Ways Are Used.............................. 3.3 0.4 0.8 0.5 0.4 1.2 Q 0.5

Do Not Use Battery-Operated Appliances/T 56.2 20.3 16.0 8.6 5.1 6.2 12.8 26.8

Other Appliances Used

Auto Block/Engine/Battery Heater.................. 0.8 Q 0.2 Q Q 0.3 Q Q

Hot Tub or Spa.............................................. 6.7 Q 0.8 1.3 1.1 3.4 Q 0.5

Swimming Pool with Filters............................ 8.3 0.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 4.1 Q 1.0

Water Bed..................................................... 2.2 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.6

 1. The question of whether the appliance was an Energy Star appliance was asked only of those housing units having a appliance that was less 

than 4 years old.

 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 Tables