Why do large single-family homes often require more energy for heating and cooling than city apartments?

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urban sprawl Mosaic of images taken by Landsat 5 of the western portion of Las Vegas in 1984 (top), 1999 (middle), and 2009 (bottom).

Large single-family homes require more energy for heating and cooling primarily due to their physical design and size. Modern suburban dwellings are typically larger than city apartments, which inherently increases the volume of space that must be climate-controlled.1

Furthermore, single-family homes are often stand-alone structures, meaning they possess multiple exterior walls exposed to the elements. This design allows for significant heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer through these surfaces.1

In contrast, city apartments are generally more energy-efficient because they are smaller and share walls, ceilings, and floors with neighboring units. These shared boundaries act as insulation, making it more difficult for heating and cooling resources to escape the living space.1