Is the energy intensity decreasing in the service sector?

Over the period 2000-2009, the energy intensity (energy consumption at normal climate[1] per unit of value added) in the service sector decreased in the EU-27 by 1 %/year on average, showing a relative decoupling between energy consumption and activity (value added). Over the period 2005-2009 this intensity decreased by 1.8%/year, with a reverse trend in 2009 (+0.3%). In the same time energy consumption decreased by 0.3%/year (-1.9% in 2009) reaching 143 Mtoe in 2009 (117 Mtoe in 1990, 145 Mtoe in 2005). Electricity consumption per employee in EU-27 increased by 12%, at an annual growth rate of 1.3%, due to increased use of air conditioning in southern countries and of IT and other electrical equipment. This led to an increase in the electricity intensity of the service sector in EU-27 (electricity consumption per unit of value added) of 8% over the period 2000-2009 at an annual growth rate of 0.8% (same annual changes from 2005-2009). From 2005 to 2009 the electricity consumption per employee increased quite more rapidly (+1.1%/year and +3.2% in 2009). The electricity consumption per employee reached 4850 kWh/employee in 2009 (4645 kWh/employee in 2005, 4328 kWh/employee in 1990).

[1] Energy intensity at normal climate (i.e. corrected for climatic variations)