They don't make 'em like they used to
Surplus home energy usage in the face of unseasonable temperatures in California in 2003 and 2009, by year of construction. Electricity usage during hotter weather is more responsive for houses of more recent vintage. This is occuring despite mandated weatherization improvements that, in principle, reduce the need for climate control.
Created with Highstock 2.1.9Year of constructionEffect of 10 degree days on energy use (relative to pre-1940 houses)electricity response to hot weathernatural gas response to cold weather1940-19491950-19591960-19691970-19741975-19771978-19821983-19921993-19971998-20002001-20042005-2008-0.5%0%0.5%1%1.5%
Bars represent 95% confidence intervals.
Source: adapted from Figure 6 of Levinson (2016)