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The American Energy Consumer
Table 5-8.Aspects of Winter Room
Temperature and Its Control, by Income, 1973 (percent of
households)
| Winter temperature
control |
Poor |
Lower middle |
Upper middle |
Well off |
| All households |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
| Temperature control |
|
|
|
|
| Thermostat or valve |
54 |
81 |
92 |
98 |
| None |
46 |
19 |
8 |
2 |
| Daytime temperature
choice |
|
|
|
|
| Actual same as
preferred |
90 |
93 |
94 |
97 |
| Actual colder than
preferred |
8 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
| Actual warmer than
preferred |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Usual day temperature |
|
|
|
|
| 69° and under |
17 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
| 70°-72° |
49 |
52 |
53 |
55 |
| 73°-75° |
23 |
24 |
24 |
26 |
| 76° and over |
11 |
10 |
9 |
6 |
| Usual night
temperature |
|
|
|
|
| Less than 65° |
36 |
20 |
13 |
13 |
| 65°-69° |
21 |
31 |
33 |
33 |
| 70°-72° |
28 |
34 |
36 |
38 |
| 73° and over |
15 |
14 |
18 |
16 |
| Bedroom window at
night |
|
|
|
|
| Open |
31 |
36 |
29 |
35 |
| Not open |
69 |
64 |
71 |
65 |
| Presence of electric space
heaters |
|
|
|
|
| None |
87 |
86 |
85 |
81 |
| One or more |
13 |
14 |
15 |
19 |
| Source: Washington
Center for Metropolitan Studies' Lifestyles and Energy
Surveys. |
Table 5-9.Index of Average Amount of
Natural Gas Used per Household by Winter Room Temperature and Its
Control, by Income, 1972-1973 (Poor households = 100)
| Temperature
characteristics and control |
Poor |
Lower middle |
Upper middle |
Well off |
| All households |
100 |
109 |
120 |
147 |
| Usual day temperature |
|
|
|
|
| 70°-72° |
100 |
120 |
134 |
162 |
| 73°-75° |
100 |
83 |
85 |
113 |
| Usual night
temperature |
|
|
|
|
| Less than 65° |
100 |
90 |
115 |
145 |
| Bedroom window at
night |
|
|
|
|
| Open |
100 |
126 |
160 |
175 |
| Not open |
100 |
109 |
112 |
146 |
| Source: Washington
Center for Metropolitan Studies' Lifestyles and Energy
Surveys. |