52%
of household energy goes to heating and cooling
In 2020, space heating and air conditioning together accounted for 52% of the average U.S. household's annual energy use.
Home Energy Reference
U.S. home heating & cooling statistics
Key figures on how American homes heat, cool, and use energy, collected in one place for homeowners, writers, and local housing professionals.
Last updated October 19, 2026. Each statistic links to its original source and data year.
At a Glance
The numbers behind home comfort
42%
of residential energy consumption was space heating
Space heating was the largest residential energy end use in the United States in 2020.
88%
of U.S. households used air conditioning
Two-thirds of households used a central air conditioner or central heat pump as their main cooling equipment in 2020.
61%
of households used natural gas for at least one end use
Space heating, water heating, and cooking were the most common household uses of natural gas in 2020.
19%
of home electricity use went to air conditioning
Air conditioning was the largest category of residential site electricity use in 2020. Space heating and water heating each accounted for 12%.
42%
of households named electricity as their main heating fuel
That was the reported U.S. share in 2024, reflecting a long-term shift in where households live and the equipment they use.
Pennsylvania Context
Pennsylvania households use substantial natural gas for heat
In 2020, Pennsylvania homes used an estimated 154.0 trillion Btu of natural gas for space heating. The same EIA state table reports 14.9 trillion Btu of propane and 43.1 trillion Btu of fuel oil or kerosene for space heating.
These are statewide energy-consumption totals, not household bills. They show why dependable heating service remains a practical priority across the region.
Methodology & Sources
How to use this page
This page summarizes publicly available U.S. energy data. Figures keep the data year supplied by the original source, because a newer page update does not make older survey results new. The Energy Information Administration's 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey is a nationally representative survey of U.S. housing units. Statistics are refreshed when a source publishes a newer comparable figure.
- EIA, Use of energy in homes, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey data.
- EIA, Nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning in 2020, published May 31, 2022.
- EIA, The majority of U.S. households used natural gas in 2020, published March 23, 2023.
- EIA, Space heating consumed the most energy of any end use in homes, published June 15, 2023.
- EIA, Electricity use is becoming more common for residential heating, 2024 household estimate.
- EIA, Pennsylvania household fuel-use table, 2020 state totals.
Cite this page
Aukamp Heating & Cooling. “U.S. Home Heating & Cooling Statistics.” Updated October 19, 2026. https://theo-site-d103235e-bdc8-479a-8dce.onrender.com/home-energy-statistics
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