A substantial amount of primary and secondary energy is consumed by the residential sector. Residential energy consumption includes energy required for construction activity and household consumption. Hence there is a need to quantify energy consumption, its significance and causes. Calculating energy intensity of goods and services is the first step towards quantifying the causes. This research is based on the 115 sector classification input-output tables for India, for 1993-94, 1998-99 and 130 sector classification input-output tables for 2003-04 and 2006-07. Energy intensity of sectors related to household consumption has been calculated to analyze the trend between 1993-94 and 2006-07. Indirect energy requirements of Indian households have been assessed in this study from calculations of total primary energy intensity along with private final consumption expenditure. Results indicate that energy consumption has increased for all categories except "medical care and hygiene". Percentage increase in indirect primary energy consumed by households is maximum for "house building" and "recreation" categories. Finally a complete decomposition analysis of indirect primary energy consumed by households has been carried out based on changing structural composition of the private final consumption expenditure, energy intensity patterns, per capita expenditures on energy and population. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.