Indicator: Energy Consumption by Sector
Data and Data Discussion provided by
Sustainable Seattle
Sustainability Snapshot:
From 1996 to 2005 (the most recent data available), total energy use in King County increased by almost 10%. The lion’s share of this growth is attributable to the transportation sector, which grew 17% compared with all other segments which collectively grew only 3%. In 2005, the only year for which detailed data is available by sector, residential and commercial energy use accounted for 22% and 21% of energy consumption, respectively, while industrial use was only 7% of the total and transportation represented 49.7% of total energy use.
Sustainability Trend:
Energy consumption in the transportation sector grew 17% compared with all other segments which collectively grew only 3% from 1996 to 2005.
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Total energy consumption in King County (gasoline, diesel, electricity, natural gas), with segmentation by industry sectors (residential, commercial, industrial, transportation).
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Total energy consumption in King
County has increased roughly 10% from 1996 through 2005, with a peak in 2000,
followed by a decline of 1-2% over the next four years and a slight increase in
2005. Transportation, including both
gasoline and diesel consumption, has grown a considerably higher 17% in that
time frame, accounting for a steadily growing share of total energy use, from
46% in 1996 to close to 50% in 2005.
Residential, commercial and industrial energy use, including both
natural gas and electricity, peaked in 2000 but then dropped by almost 8%
through 2004, with a slight increase of 2% in 2005.
The transportation sector is the
largest consumer of energy in King County and has been consuming a steadily
growing share of energy since 1996 (data available only through 2005). Between 1996 and 2005, King County
consumption of gasoline and diesel, used by the transportation sector, has
grown by 17%, while energy use of natural gas and electricity by residences and
commercial/industrial businesses has grown by only 3%.
Both transportation and
non-transportation sectors peaked in their energy use during 2000, but the next
four years saw transportation consumption continue to grow steadily, albeit
more slowly (growth slowed from 14% in 2000 to only 1.6% in 2005), while
residential and business energy consumption declined by 5.1% during the same time frame.
A growing population and increasing
commuting distances may help to explain the steadily rising energy consumption
by the transportation sector. The
decrease in energy consumption by residential, commercial and industrial
sectors may reflect enhanced conservation awareness and practices on the part
of consumers and businesses, or may be a result of increasing utility rates.
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The data for this indicator was compiled by Sustainable Seattle.
The primary data source for this
indicator is the King County Budget Office, which publishes a series of
Benchmark Reports, including data indicators for Energy Consumption (Indicator
11). The 2004-2005 report includes data
through 2004 and can be found here: http://www.metrokc.gov/budget/benchmrk/bench04/Environment/Environment_05.pdf#11
The 2005-2007 report includes
data through 2005 and can be found here: http://www.metrokc.gov/budget/benchmrk/Ind_11_Enviro0607.pdf However, the more recent report does not break the data down
by transportation and non-transportation sectors, hence only the total energy
consumption of 255 trillion BTUs was used from this report.
Additional data for 2005, including the more detailed
breakdown of residential, commercial, and industrial energy consumption was
obtained from Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light, care of Lisa Voight,
the project manager for the King County Benchmarks project. It has not yet been assembled into the next
report.
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