NEEA Releases Foundational Data on Northwest Residential Building Stock and Energy Usage, Supporting Regional Decision-Making

2022 RBSA Data Reveals Northwest Energy Trends for LEDs, Smart Thermostats and more.

View the RBSA

The results of the 2022 Residential Building Stock Assessment (RBSA) are now available. The RBSA collects data on more than 100 building characteristics and supports the region with an up-to-date and representative characterization of existing Northwest residential building stock and energy trends. This fundamental primary research is used by NEEA, Northwest utilities, and other regional stakeholders to improve and expand the region’s understanding of residential energy usage and support regional efficiency programs and energy planning. The 2022 RBSA gathered energy usage and building characteristic data from more than 2,000 single-family and multifamily residences in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

NEEA collects this data on behalf of the region to support the delivery of better, more informed efficiency programs to customers. It is an instrumental resource that aids critical decision-making associated with energy resource forecasting and planning. For example, the RBSA data helps the region’s utilities and stakeholders develop strategies to ensure the Northwest’s energy supply is reliable, affordable and sustainable for current and future generations.

This is the third RBSA study conducted by NEEA since 2011. When comparing the current data to prior years’ studies, consumer trends are revealed, such as the evolving prevalence of certain products and appliances. For example, the 2022 RBSA data demonstrated the following Northwest trends:

  • LEDs now account for 60% of lighting in single-family homes—a 39% increase compared to 2017, highlighting deep market penetration for this efficient lighting option.
  • Cooling systems continue to rise, with 66% of Northwest homes now having cooling systems as compared to 42% in 2011 and 57% in 2017, indicating a trend toward higher energy consumption during peak periods.
  • Smart thermostat use has doubled from 7% in 2017 to 14% in 2022, allowing consumers more control over their home comfort levels.

More information on the RBSA is now available, including the full datasets and report.

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