Offices, pubs and restaurants were the only types of non-domestic building to see a reduction in median electricity consumption last year, according to the Central Statistics Office.

Mean electricity consumption rose in community and day centres (+8%), primary health care buildings (+7%) and retail units (+2%) while offices (-7), pubs and restaurants (-6%) saw a decrease year-on-year.

"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," said Dympna Corry, statistician in the environment and climate division at the CSO.

"These figures were much higher than the amount of electricity per square metre used by other types of premises in 2021: Offices at 84 kWh/m2; Primary Health Care at 83 kWh/m2; and Community / Day Centre at 81 kWh/m2."

On a mean basis, electricity consumption in offices tripled from 11,611kWh to 31,027kWh year-on-year, but Corry said the diverse range of premises included in the study made the median a more stable indicator of typical usage.

In Association with

The CSO's non-domestic electricity consumption by building energy ratings 2021 release shows that A and B rated buildings used an average of 133kWh of electricity per square metre in 2021.

This compares to electricity usage per square metre of 124kWh for C rated buildings, 106kWh for D rated buildings, 98kWh for E rated premises, and 98kWh for F and G rated premises, highlighting how better-rated buildings tend to use more energy.

The mean electricity consumption for non-residential buildings from 2005 to 2021 was 199kWh per square metre, with more energy-efficient buildings constructed during that time tending to have a larger floor area.

A and B rated non-residential buildings had an average of 571sq m compared with an average of 331sqm for C rated buildings and 248sq m for F and G ratings.

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