Abstract
In the past decade the field of energy research has been continuously stimulated by the variable nature of supply and demand for fuel and electricity. Much of the work contributed by geographers deals with the development of models which can predict or explain energy consumption at a variety of scales. This study investigates the relationship between economic, social, and climatological variables on the consumption of energy per household within the contiguous United States. A path analysis model is presented which explains 63 percent of the variance in residential energy consumption among states. Price of home heating fuel is shown to be the dominant explanatory variable followed by climate, percent of homes with electricity as the primary heating fuel, and median value of homes.
Recommended Citation
Soule, Peter T.
(1988)
"An Examination of Energy Consumption in the Residential Sector of the Contiguous United States,"
The Geographical Bulletin: Vol. 30:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/thegeographicalbulletin/vol30/iss1/3