Men use more energy than women: study

“Single men consume, according to our calculations, about 20 percent more energy than single women,” FOI said in a 60-page report.

The figures appeared strongly linked to the fact that women are statistically more concerned about the impact of their personal energy consumption on the environment, the group added.

The study, part of a joint project by Sweden, Germany and Spain, measured energy consumption in the households of single adults with no children to most clearly show different male and female usage patterns, the group said.

The report measured direct energy consumption, like a car burning fuel, and indirect energy consumption, measuring the power used to produce the products and food people buy.

Based on numbers compiled by Sweden’s national statistics agency, FOI compared the energy use of 556 men and 538 women between 2003 and 2005.

“The largest difference between the single woman and single man households is to be found in transportation,” the report said, pointing out that 40 percent of men’s energy use went to transport while only 25 percent of women’s did.

“Men spend more money on buying cars, and they drive cars more. Thereby they also consume more fuel,” FOI said.

Men’s energy use when it comes to eating out and consuming alcohol and tobacco was also nearly double that of women’s.

Women meanwhile used far more indirect energy than men in the areas of health care and pharmaceuticals, and on clothing.

“The study indicates that men use more of their energy consumption on direct energy than women,” FOI said.

The group said women appeared more interested in buying products proven to be less harmful to the environment, and were more likely to drive less or slower in an attempt to limit their energy use.