Most energy end uses such as space conditioning or water heating are apparently well-defined in what is included, and have terminology that derives from the professionals who work in the relevant field. The topic of miscellaneous consumption lacks such clarity for historical and practical reasons. As this end use grows in size and interest for the energy community, the confusion and ambiguity around the topic is an increasing barrier to progress. This paper provides definitions for key terms and concepts with the intent that that future work can be more correctly and consistently reported and interpreted. In addition, it provides a taxonomy of product types and categories, which covers both residential and commercial miscellaneous consumption. A key element is identification of "electronics" as a distinct energy end use. Finally, products are identified as to whether they commonly have a low-power mode, and product types that have such modes within the traditional end uses are also listed.

Historically, residential energy and carbon saving efforts have targeted conventional end uses such as water heating, lighting and refrigeration. The emergence of new household appliances has transformed energy use from a few large and easily identifiable end uses into a broad array of "miscellaneous" energy services. This group of socalled miscellaneous appliances has been a major contributor to growth in electricity demand in the past two decades. We use industry shipment data, lifetimes, and wattage and usage estimates of over 90 individual products to construct a bottom-up end use model (1976-2010). The model is then used to analyze historical and forecasted growth trends, and to identify the largest individual products within the miscellaneous end use. We also use the end use model to identify and analyze policy priorities. Our forecast projects that over the period 1996 to 2010, miscellaneous consumption will increase 115 TWh, accounting for over 90 percent of future residential electricity growth. A large portion of this growth will be due to halogen torchiere lamps and consumer electronics, making these two components of miscellaneous electricity a particularly fertile area for efficiency programs. Approximately 20 percent (40 TWh) of residential miscellaneous electricity is "leaking electricity" or energy consumed by appliances when they are not performing their principal function. If the standby power of all appliances with a standby mode is reduced to one watt, the potential energy savings equal 21 TWh/yr, saving roughly $1-2 billion annually.