Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS)
Methodology Brief
What is the CNSTAT Assessment of EIA's Building Consumption Data?
On February 10, 2012, the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) released an assessment of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) and Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS), which was initiated at the request of EIA.
How does EIA estimate energy consumption and end uses in U.S. homes?
EIA administers the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) to a nationally representative sample of housing units. Specially trained interviewers collect energy characteristics on the housing unit, usage patterns, and household demographics. This information is combined with data from energy suppliers to these homes to estimate energy costs and usage for heating, cooling, appliances and other "end uses" – information critical to meeting future energy demand and improving efficiency and building design.
Features
The impact of increasing home size on energy demand
Release Date: April 19, 2012
Homes built since 1990 are on average 27% larger than homes built in earlier decades, a significant trend because most energy end-uses are correlated with the size of the home.
Did you know that air conditioning is in nearly 100 million U.S. homes?
Release Date: August 19, 2011
The latest results from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) show that 87 percent of U.S. households are now equipped with AC. This growth occurred among all housing types and in every Census region. Wider use has coincided with much improved energy efficiency standards for AC equipment, a population shift to hotter and more humid regions, and a housing boom during which average housing sizes increased.
How are we using energy in homes today?
Release Date: March 28, 2011
The 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) collected home energy characteristics data from over 12,000 U.S. households. Findings from the survey are highlighted in this report and presented in detailed Household Energy Characteristics tables.
EIA expands household energy use data series to include 16 states
Release Date: March 28, 2011
EIA is releasing new benchmark estimates for home energy use for the year 2009 that will include data for 16 States, 12 more than in past survey rounds. EIA has conducted the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) since 1978 to provide data on home energy characteristics, end uses and expenses for the four Census Regions and nine Divisions.