How We Use Energy

The United States is a highly developed and industrialized society. We use a lot of energy in our homes, in businesses, in industry, and for personal travel and transporting goods.

Share of Energy Consumed by Major Sectors of the Economy, 2008 graphic. Image of the four major energy use sectors: Industrial sector with 31%, Transportation sector with 28%, Residential sector with 22%, and Commercial sector with 19%
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Each Sector Plays an Important Role in Our Economy

  • The industrial sector includes facilities and equipment used for manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction.

  • The transportation sector comprises vehicles that transport people or goods, such as: cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trains, subways, aircraft, boats, barges, and even hot air balloons.

  • The residential sector consists of homes and apartments.

  • The commercial sector includes buildings such as offices, malls, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, warehouses, restaurants, places of worship, and more.