In Spain, between 2000 and 2008, as the economy grew, energy consumption increased. Researchers analyzed what drove these changes using complex methods. They found that energy intensity, how much energy is used per unit of production, played a big role in affecting energy consumption in different sectors. During the economic boom, energy intensity hindered production sectors' energy use but drove energy use in households. However, during the economic downturn, energy intensity in private transport reduced energy consumption. These findings suggest that to meet EU energy efficiency goals, Spain should focus on reducing household energy use in the future.