Steady Decline In Energy Use
European Union households consumed 9.54 million terajoules of energy in 2024, down 0.2% from 9.57 million terajoules in 2023, according to Eurostat. The decline marks the third consecutive year of lower residential energy consumption, following the 2021 peak of 10.98 million terajoules.
Residential Sector’s Energy Share
Households accounted for 26% of total final energy consumption across the European Union in 2024.
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Fuel Mix And Its Evolution
Natural gas remained the largest source of household energy, representing 29.4% of total consumption. Electricity accounted for 26.9%, while renewables and biofuels made up 22.8%. The figures illustrate the continued role of multiple energy sources in meeting residential demand across the bloc.
Thermal Comfort As A Priority
Space heating remained the largest household energy use category, accounting for 61.5% of total residential consumption. Water heating represented 15.6% of energy use, followed by lighting and electrical appliances at 14.8%. Cooking accounted for 6.4%, while space cooling represented 0.8%.
Year-Over-Year Shifts
Compared with 2023, energy consumption for space heating declined by 1.2%, while energy used for cooking fell by 0.9%. At the same time, energy demand for space cooling increased by 15.3%, and consumption related to lighting and electrical appliances rose by 2.6%. The data point to shifting patterns in household energy use, particularly in categories linked to cooling and electricity consumption.
