How much energy do we use?
In our 21st century world, energy is being consumed at a vastly increasing rate. According to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2010 the world consumed about 524 quadrillion (that's 15 zeros!) BTU (British thermal units). That's a 70.61% increase from 1990 levels! That means that in just 20 years, we have nearly doubled the world's energy demand. [7]
Unfortunately, with our population still growing and new technology being developed every day, our energy demand will only continue to rise. The latest data from the EIA estimates that in the year 2040 the world will consume 780 quadrillion BTU of energy every year. [7]
So, where do we, and will we get all that energy from?!
The EIA predicts that in 2040, fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) will remain the number one source of energy for the world, powering more than three quarters of the world's energy supply. Luckily, the EIA also states that renewable energy sources are the fastest growing energy source, increasing at an average rate of 2.5% per year! This rate must quicken if the world is going to avoid the drastic effects of climate change predicted by the world's top scientists. [8]
Climate Change
According to the EPA, the burning of fossil fuels to produce energy is the number 1 contributor to worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. And with increased emissions, comes climate change - the greatest environmental threat our planet has ever faced. According to NASA, climate change will cause sea levels to rise, increased drought, more intense cyclones, decreased water resources and more. [9]
It is easy to see why the energy crisis is such an important issue for our generation. We need to continue to encourage the development of alternative energy sources and push our governments to commit to a clean energy future, but we also need to change the way we live and reduce our personal dependency on fossil fuels.
[1] http://www.carbonfund.org/how-we-calculate
[3] http://site.earthtechproducts.com/PDFs/Vampire_Power_Facts.pdf
[4] http://physics.fau.edu/observatory/lightpol-econ.html
[5] http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/food/local.html#conservation
[7] http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/world.cfm
[8] http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html
Actions to Save Energy
1. I will not drive a car this week; instead I will bike, walk, or use public transportation!
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One gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline, produces 8.91 kg of CO2 [1] and the average U.S. car gets
24.6 miles to the gallon [2]. So driving from College Park to Baltimore, a 37 mile drive, creates nearly
13.5 kilograms of CO2 in the atmosphere!
2. I will unplug electronics when they are not in use!
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Standby power is wasted electrical energy consumed while products and appliances are switched off
but still plugged in. Standy power wasted in the U.S. is enough to meet the electricity needs of Vietnam, Peru and Greece. [3]
3. I will turn the lights off when I leave the room and when the sun's natural light is enough!
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Estimates predict that one-third of all lighting in the U.S. is wasted, at an annual cost of about 30 million barrels of oil and 8.2 million tons of coal - a total of about U.S. $2 billion. That oil amounts to generating 14.1 million tons of CO2 per year into the atmosphere. [4]
4. I will support local agriculture and purchase food from the Farmer's Market or Co-op this week!
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One-fifth of all petroleum used in the United States is used in agriculture. Statistics show that the average distance food travels in distribution is 1,500 miles. By learning to eat foods that are locally available and in season, you can conserve the large amount of energy used in both the packaging and shipping of food. [5]
5. I will not eat beef this week!
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Producing one kilogram of beef, creates 27.1 kilograms of CO2. Comparatively, one kilogram of chicken creates 6.9 kilograms of CO2, and one kilogram of tofu creates only 2.0 kilograms of CO2! [6]
6. I will watch one of the following documentaries:
Acclaimed environmental photographer, James Balog, travels to the Arctic in order to conduct a photography experiment in which he visibly captures the effect that climate change is having on the polar ice caps.
This film explores what the future could be like if humanity does not take any significant steps to curtail the progress of climate change. It begins in the year 2055 in a world ravaged by catastrophic climate change; London is flooded, Sydney is burning, Las Vegas has been swallowed up by desert, the Amazon rainforest has burnt up, snow has vanished from the Alps and nuclear war has laid waste to India.
Energy Week: April 9th - April 15th
Our energy use is changing the face of the planet as we know it