In the early 1900s, many homes used coal for home heating. Today, in developed countries, few residences still use coal for heating. Similarly, the use of coal in boilers for industries, factories, schools, etc. has declined substantially. Coal is still used in some industrial and commercial boilers and ovens for heating and other purposes. The cement, glass, ceramic, and paper industries all use coal. Of these, the cement industry is the dominant user of coal. Cement manufacturing is particularly energy-intensive.

In 2014, in the United States, approximately 43,000 tons of coal, which was less than 5 percent of the total mined coal that year, was used for industrial and residential markets. In Kentucky, less than 3 percent was used for industrial and residential purposes (EIA, 2016 data).

Other Uses of Coal:

• Coal for Electricity Generation
• Coal to Make Coke and Steel
• Coal for Specialty Products and Chemicals
• Rare Earth Elements from Coal

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