In commercial buildings, which end use consumes the most energy on average?

The most energy-consuming end use in commercial buildings is typically space heating. This is primarily due to the need to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, especially in climates where winter temperatures are significantly low. Space heating systems often rely on fossil fuels, electricity, or a combination of both, which can lead to substantial energy use during colder months.

In many regions, the heating demand can be particularly high in larger commercial buildings due to their size and the need to heat expansive areas efficiently. This greater square footage requires more energy to maintain warmth compared to other end uses, such as lighting or cooling, which, while significant, often do not consume as much energy overall when averaged across various building types and climates.

Understanding the energy consumption patterns in commercial buildings is crucial for energy management and efficiency improvements, hence why knowledge of the major end uses is vital.