In the United States, we take light switches and electrical sockets for granted. But how many of us know how much electricity we’re using throughout the day, the week, or even the year? Or even where it comes from?
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Energy Consumption Stats:
Today, everybody’s talking about green energy, aka renewable energy that doesn’t require the burning of a finite resource. In 2004, the total world’s energy came from the following sources:
• geothermal, solar, wind, and wood energy make up 1%
• nuclear 6%
• hydroelectric 6%
• coal 26%
• gas 23%
• oil 38%
• solar photovoltaic .04%
• biofuels .2%
• geothermal .2%
• wind .3%
• solar heat .5%
The US uses 100 quadrillion BTUs (105 exajoules) per year, 3x its consumption in 1950.
37.14% of the US energy comes from petroleum
22.42% from coal
23.84% from natural gas
8.46% nuclear
7.30% renewable (mainly hydroelectric dams)
Energy consumption has increased at a faster rate than energy production, so the difference is met through imports.
Electricity:
- 48.2% of US electricity comes from coal
- 19.6% comes from nuclear
- 3.7% comes from solar, wind, and geothermal
- 21.4% comes from natural gas
- 1.1% comes from oil
- 6% comes from hydroelectric
Average energy consumption per year per US person: 335.9 million BTUs
World per person average: 72.4 million BTUs
At Home:
41% of energy is used for space heating
20% for water heating
26% for lighting and appliances
8% for air conditioning
5% for refridgeration
Emissions from Electric Utilities:
Sulfur dioxide SO2 – 7,830 thousand metric tons
Nitrogen Oxides NOx – 3,330 thousand metric tons
Carbo Dioxide CO2 – 2,477,213 thousand metric tons
Single Family Dwellings:
For heating:
56% use natural gas
26% use electricity
7% use fuel oil
6% use liquefied petroleum gases
1% use kerosene
For Appliances:
95% have a clothes washer
92% have a clothes dryer
74% have a personal computer
84% have AC
Gasoline Stats:
A little over a gallon of gasoline per day per person is used in America
Average American drives a little over 12,000 miles per year
Average MPG in America is 19.8
Sources: http://www.bts.gov http://www.eia.doe.gov
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