Washington's Energy Indicators

13.  Commercial Sector Trends — Commercial Sector Energy Intensity

COMMERCIAL SECTOR ENERGY CONSUMPTION HAS DECLINED RAPIDLY RELATIVE TO ECONOMIC OUTPUT SINCE THE MID-1980S.

Washington’s commercial sector has become much less energy intensive over the last 15 years. Commercial sector energy consumption increased more than 50 percent between 1977 and 1985, but has since declined slightly. Meanwhile, the value of all goods and services produced by the commercial sector has more than doubled in real terms since 1977 and continues to grow at 4 percent per year. Increased productivity and improvements in the efficiency of buildings, lighting, and equipment have played a major role in declining commercial sector energy intensity.

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