Natural gas ranks number three in energy use, right after petroleum and coal. Twenty-three percent of the energy we use in the United States comes from natural gas. Industry is the biggest consumer of natural gas, using it mainly to manufacture goods. Industry also uses natural gas as an ingredient in fertilizer, photographic film, ink, glue, paint, plastics, laundry detergent, and insect repellents. Synthetic rubber and man-made fibers like nylon also could not be made without the chemicals derived from natural gas.
Residences are people's homes.
Residences are the second biggest users of natural gas. Six in ten homes use natural gas for heating. Many homes also use gas water heaters, stoves, and clothes dryers. Like residences, commercial use of natural gas is mostly for heating. Commercial use includes stores, offices, schools, churches, and hospitals.