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Our Addiction To Energy – First Step Acknowledge the Problem
Globally we use the energy equivalent to 150 Billion light globes burning all the time.
Lifestyle and location is dependent on the amount of energy used per capita. In the US every person uses the equivalent amount of energy to continually burn 110 light bulbs. Europeans use 55, Asians 16 and Africans 8 however, as the world develops the demand for energy is rising rapidly.
As China and other countries such as India and African nations urbanise and become middle class they will demand and consume more energy.
Where does our energy come from?
Fossil fuels account for the most Oil 33%, Coal 25% and Natural Gas 20%. The remainder is made up of other sources such as nuclear 9%, Hydro electric, solar, wind and Geo thermal.
We are addicted to oil and it is getting harder to get which makes it more costly. 100 years ago it took 1 barrel of oil to get 20 Barrels of oil whilst currently in Saudi Arabia it takes 1 barrel of oil to get 20 Barrels of oil. Scarily , it takes 1 barrel to produce only 5 barrels of oil from the Canadian Tar Sands. Furthermore, many believe that we have pulled out more than half of the oil reserves we have. Given the dramatic increase in demand how long will the rest last? Other fossil fuels such as coal and gas are more plentiful but they release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which most scientist agrees causes climate problems.
Importantly, there are ways we can as individuals decrease our demand for energy. Also, there is a way that we can produce the amount of energy that we require now and in the future but by implementing a portfolio of energy sources it is a challenge that needs to be and can be met.
A very good documentary in lay terms talking about these issues can be located below.
Episode 1/3
Episode 2/3
Episode 3/3
What Can You Do?
Lifestyle and location is dependent on the amount of energy used per capita. In the US every person uses the equivalent amount of energy to continually burn 110 light bulbs. Europeans use 55, Asians 16 and Africans 8 however, as the world develops the demand for energy is rising rapidly.
As China and other countries such as India and African nations urbanise and become middle class they will demand and consume more energy.
Where does our energy come from?
Fossil fuels account for the most Oil 33%, Coal 25% and Natural Gas 20%. The remainder is made up of other sources such as nuclear 9%, Hydro electric, solar, wind and Geo thermal.
We are addicted to oil and it is getting harder to get which makes it more costly. 100 years ago it took 1 barrel of oil to get 20 Barrels of oil whilst currently in Saudi Arabia it takes 1 barrel of oil to get 20 Barrels of oil. Scarily , it takes 1 barrel to produce only 5 barrels of oil from the Canadian Tar Sands. Furthermore, many believe that we have pulled out more than half of the oil reserves we have. Given the dramatic increase in demand how long will the rest last? Other fossil fuels such as coal and gas are more plentiful but they release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which most scientist agrees causes climate problems.
Importantly, there are ways we can as individuals decrease our demand for energy. Also, there is a way that we can produce the amount of energy that we require now and in the future but by implementing a portfolio of energy sources it is a challenge that needs to be and can be met.
A very good documentary in lay terms talking about these issues can be located below.
Episode 1/3
Episode 2/3
Episode 3/3
What Can You Do?
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