The Congressional Budget Office released three nice graphs which provide a good description of energy sources and their use in the US. Oil is the major source of energy. It is used primarily for transportation and industrial production. Coal is the the second major source of energy. It is used primarily to create electricity. Natural gas is the third source of energy that is used primarily by households for heating. Nuclear energy is primarily used to provide electricity. Renewable sources energy are growing but they are still a minor source of energy.
Household consumption of energy has been flat in recent years. Household appliances have become more efficient but the increasing use of central air conditioning has expanded and wiped out the efficiency gain. Perhaps faster population growth in the sunbelt explains part of the growth in the use of air conditioning.
No comments:
Post a Comment