An examination of factors affecting residential energy consumption using a multiple discrete continuous approach

Residential energy use has become an important source of global energy demand growth and carbon emissions growth. Residential building energy usage accounts for about 22% of the total energy use in the United States. In the current study, we address residential energy usage by addressing two decisions: (1) source of energy (such as electric and natural gas) and (2) consumption by energy source for various purposes. A Multiple Discrete Continuous Extreme Value model that allows us to analyze the source and consumption decisions in an integrated framework is developed. The model is estimated using data drawn from the 2015 Residential Energy Consumption Survey that provides energy use details for electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas for residential units across United States. An exhaustive set of independent variables including location characteristics, household characteristics, housing characteristics, appliance use and climatic characteristics were employed in the model estimation. The model estimation results are augmented with a comprehensive policy analysis to illustrate how various independent variables affect energy use by source. A comparison of energy use between urban and rural regions, by varying household size and housing unit size are examined. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study addresses residential energy usage by analyzing two decisions: source of energy and consumption for different purposes. A Multiple Discrete Continuous Extreme Value model is employed, with a wide range of independent variables included in the model estimation. The research also examines the comparison of energy use between urban and rural regions, as well as between varying household size and housing unit size.