Restaurants and public houses used 167 kilowatt hours of electricity per square metre in 2021 compared with 137 kWh per square metre for retail units in 2021, new CSO data shows.

A- and B-rated buildings used 133 kilowatt hours of electricity per square metre in 2021 compared with 98 kWh per square metre for F- and G-rated premises.

The mean electricity consumption in 2021 for non-residential buildings built during 2005-2021 was 119 kWh per square metre.

Mean electricity consumption also increased in 2021 compared with 2020 for community and day centres (+8%), primary health care buildings (+7%) and retail (+2%).

Offices

Mean electricity consumption decreased in 2021 for offices (-7%) and restaurants and public houses (-6%). 

More highly energy-efficient business premises, built from 2005 to 2021, had more floor area. 

A- and B-rated non-residential buildings had an average of 571 square metres compared with an average of 331 square metres for C-rated building and 248 square metres for F- and G-ratings.