# Progress on commercial building energy efficiency has been good, but more attention needed to decrease waste in several areas

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/07/progress-on-commercial-building-energy-efficiency-has-been-good-but-more-attention-needed-to-decrease-waste-in-several-areas/
- Published: 2016-07-07T01:01:17-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

#### _by Steven Nadel, Executive Director_

Data recently released as part of the [Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey](https://web.archive.org/web/20181122120941/https://www.eia.gov/consumption/commercial/)(
CBECS) highlights changes in commercial sector energy demand between 2003 and 2012.
The Energy Information Administration conducts CBECS approximately every five years
and examines in depth a nationally representative sample of thousands of commercial
buildings.  Overall, energy use per square foot of floor area is down by 12%. Great
strides have been made in reducing energy use for lighting and space heating. Regarding
space heating, the reduction is due to both greater use of energy-saving technologies
and practices and higher growth in building floor area in the south, which accounted
for 39% of commercial building floor area in 2012, up from 37% in 2003.

[⌊Progress on commercial building energy efficiency has been good but more attention
needed to decrease waste in several areas⌉⌊Progress on commercial building energy
efficiency has been good but more attention needed to decrease waste in several 
areas⌉[

But it is also notable that some building power end-uses have gone up over the past
decade. Energy use for computers, office equipment, and “other” uses is up. See 
the figure below, which highlights changes in energy use since 2003 by end-use. 
Use for cooking and refrigeration is also up, mirroring the growth in the food service
and food store sectors. We’re eating out more and buying more prepared and refrigerated
foods. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that food store employment
has been up 12.7% over the past decade. That’s more than double the growth in all
employment.

Moreover, cooling and ventilation power use are also up. The growth in cooling is
very modest. That’s given the fact that CBECS found that 45% of all commercial new
construction since 2003 has been in the south, where cooling needs are particularly
high…

To continue reading this blog post, visit: https://aceee.org/blog/2016/07/progress-
commercial-building-energy

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
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Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
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