Trends of residential energy use in Mexico are described between 1970 and 1990. Top-down and bottom-up approaches are specified. The top-down approach shows that household energy demand has been non-elastic to energy price and that changes in household size were more important than income in determining per capita energy demand between 1970 and 1990. The bottom-up approach shows that cooking is the main end use while water heating and appliances are the end uses with the greatest rates of growth. Nearly 20% energy savings may be achievable in the future.