Space-and-water heating in the commercial sector is achieved in Jordan primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels, and so contributes significantly to air pollution and the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, The results of a recent survey were used to evaluate the energy demands of the commercial and public-service buildings. In sequence of decreasing popularity, diesel fuel, kerosene and LPG are the main sources of energy for space heating. Unfortunately unvented combustion-appliances, e.g. portable kerosene and LPG stoves, are too often still employed for this purpose in unclassified hotels, some clinics and health centres as well as retail shops. These stoves emit high rates of combustion by-products that result in excessive pollution, in enclosed spaces, of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide. Electricity consumption is relatively high due to the excessive lighting-demands and the use of air-conditioning and ventilation systems to compensate for the dry climate and high temperatures during summer. Due to the lack of available information about the energy-consumption performances of commercial buildings, detailed energy audits should be conducted with the aim of identifying the most applicable energy-effective measures. However, preliminary estimates showed that about 50x10(3) toe of the annual consumption in Jordan can be saved with little investment: the corresponding annual CO2 emissions reduction would be approximately 160 x 10(3) tonnes.