While rising energy costs are certainly not new (anyone remember the 1970s?), the ways that businesses and individuals deal with rising energy costs is new. Since the crisis of the 1970s, the U.S. economy has shifted to less energy-intensive industries and has adopted more energy-efficient technologies. From energy-efficient appliances and office equipment to fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, new energy-efficient products and technologies are available for all facets of personal, commercial, and industrial use.
For commercial buildings specifically, energy use is projected to grow by 1.7% per year until 2025, according to the DOE. This is slightly faster than the projected growth rate for commercial floor space of 1.5%. The DOE goes on to note that energy efficiency standards, voluntary government programs aimed at improving efficiency, and other technology improvements are expected to balance the effects of a projected increase in demand for electricity-based services, meaning that energy consumption per square foot of commercial office space is projected to show little increase.