Patterns of residential energy demand by type of household: white, black, Hispanic, and low- and nonlow-income

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5628768

Klein, Y; Anderson, J; Kaganove, J; Throgmorton, J

This report compares patterns of residential energy use by white, black, Hispanic, low-income, and nonlow-income households. The observed downward trend in residential energy demand over the period of this study can be attributed primarily to changes in space-heating energy demand. Demand for space-heating energy has experienced a greater decline than energy demand for other end uses for two reasons: (1) it is the largest end use of residential energy, causing public attention to focus on it and on strategies for conserving it; and (2) space-heating expenditures are large relative to other residential energy expenditures. The price elasticity of demand is thus greater, due to the income effect. The relative demand for space-heating energy, when controlled for the effect of climate, declined significantly over the 1978-1982 period for all fuels studied. Income classes do not differ significantly. In contrast, black households were found to use more energy for space heating than white households were found to use, although those observed differences are statistically significant only for houses heated with natural gas. As expected, the average expenditure for space-heating energy increased significantly for dwellings heated by natural gas and fuel oil. No statistically significant increases were found in electricity expenditures for space heating. Electric space heat is, in general, confined to milder regions of the country, where space heating is relatively less essential. As a consequence, we would expect the electricity demand for space heating to be more price-elastic than the demand for other fuels.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5628768
• Report Number(s): ANL/EES-TM-284; ON: DE85015059
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
298000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
AGE GROUPS
AGED ADULTS
BLACK AMERICANS
DEMAND
ELDERLY PEOPLE
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY EXPENSES
HEATING
HISPANIC AMERICANS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LOW INCOME GROUPS
MINORITY GROUPS
POPULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SPACE HEATING
SURVEYS