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Using & Saving Energy

Energy Use Basics

Energy Ant

We use a lot of energy in our homes, in businesses, in industry, and for personal travel and transporting goods.

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How the United States uses energy

Share of Energy Consumed by Major Sectors of the Economy, 2014 pie graphic. Image of the four major energy use sectors: Industrial sector with 32%, Transportation sector with 28%, Residential sector with 22%, and Commercial sector with 19%
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The United States is a highly developed and industrialized society. Americans use a lot of energy in homes, in businesses, and in industry. Americans also use energy for personal travel and for transporting goods. There are five energy consuming sectors:

  • The industrial sector includes facilities and equipment used for manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and construction.
  • The transportation sector includes vehicles that transport people or goods, such as cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trains, aircraft, boats, barges, and ships.
  • The residential sector consists of homes and apartments.
  • The commercial sector includes offices, malls, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, warehouses, restaurants, and places of worship and public assembly.
  • The electric power sector consumes primary energy to generate most of the electricity consumed by the other four sectors.