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Chapter 2 focuses on energy use in the U.S. residential buildings sector. Section 2.1 provides data on energy consumption by fuel type and end use, as well as energy consumption intensities for different housing categories. Section 2.2 presents characteristics of average households and changes in the U.S. housing stock over time. Sections 2.3 and 2.4 address energy-related expenditures and residential sector emissions, respectively. Section 2.5 contains statistics on housing construction, existing home sales, and mortgages. Section 2.6 presents data on home improvement spending and trends. Section 2.7 describes the industrialized housing industry, including the top manufacturers of various manufactured home products. Section 2.8 presents information on low-income housing and Federal weatherization programs. The main points from this chapter are summarized below:

Space heating and cooling—which combined account for 54% of site energy consumption and 42% of primary energy consumption—drive residential energy demand, resulting in lower energy intensities in regions with milder climates. Homes built between 2000 and 2005 used 14% less energy per square foot than homes built in the 1980s and 40% less energy per square foot than homes built before 1950. However, larger home sizes have offset these efficiency improvements.< One-third of all homes built before 1950 are located in the Northeast; since then, the majority (51%) of new home construction has occurred in the South. Declining home values during the recession correspond with a $63 billion decrease in home improvement spending between 2007 and 2009.

Primary energy consumption in the residential sector totaled 21.54 quadrillion Btu (quads) in 2008, equal to 54% of consumption in the buildings sector and 22% of total primary energy consumption in the U.S. Nearly half (47%) of this primary energy was lost during transmission and distribution (T&D). Energy consumption increased 27% from 1990 to 2008. However, because of projected improvements in building and appliance efficiency, the Energy Information Administration’s 2011 Annual Energy Outlook forecast only a 4% increase from 2008 to 2030.(2.1.1)