Energy Trends

U.S. housing and residential energy trends at a glance:

Overall residential energy use increased 16 percent from 1985 to 2002 even though energy efficiency per square foot improved 15 percent over the same period.
U.S. households occupied by one person grew from 13 percent in 1960 to 26 percent in 2002, while households occupied by five or more persons dropped from more than 21 percent to less than 10 percent.
The average number of persons per household dropped from 3.35 in 1960 to 2.58 in 2002.
Average new-house size rose from 1,660 square feet in 1973 to about 2,400 square feet in 2004.
In 1971, 65 percent of new homes were less than 1,600 square feet. In 2003, only 22 percent were that size.
Nineteen percent of new houses in 2003 were greater than 3,000 square feet, compared to 7 percent in 1986.
More than half the new houses built in 2003 had two stories or more, compared to 17 percent in 1971.
More than half -- 56 percent -- of the new houses built in 2003 had two and a half bathrooms or more, compared to 15 percent in 1971.
Eighty-six percent of new homes built in 2003 had central air conditioning, compared to 36 percent in 1971.

(Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Association of Home Builders, Department of Energy.)

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