Energy Consumption by Major End-Use Sector in China (1980-2007) and the U.S. (2007)

Library File: 

lbnl_energy_consumption_1980-2007.pdf

China’s energy use more than quadrupled from 1980 to 2007 (see Fig. 1), and continues to grow, due in part to the demands of urbanization (i.e. construction of new buildings and infrastructure), and in part to rising production of manufactured goods.ⁱ Although China has not yet reached the energy consumption level of the U.S, China nonetheless – due to a more polluting fuel mix – recently surpassed the U.S. in energy-related CO₂ emissions.ⁱⁱ

China’s energy consumption is dominated by the industrial sector, which accounts for more than two-thirds of total energy. In contrast, industrial energy use in the U.S. is barely one-third of total energy, with the transportation and building sectors comprising the bulk of demand. The industrial sector’s large share of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in China points to the need for continued work on industrial energy conservation, via domestic efforts and international cooperation.