General Energy Facts

Worldwide

World energy consumption is expected to increase 40% to 50% by the year 2010, and the global mix of fuels--renewables (18%), nuclear (4%), and fossil (78%)--is projected to remain substantially the same as today; thus global carbon dioxide emissions would also increase 50% to 60%.

Among industrialized and developing countries, Canada consumes per capita the most energy in the world, and Italy consumes the least among industrialized countries.

Developing countries use 30% of global energy. Rapid population growth, combined with economic growth, will rapidly increase that percentage in the next 10 years.

The World Bank estimates that investments of $1 trillion will be needed in this decade and upwards of $4 trillion during the next 30 years to meet developing countries' electricity needs alone.

Traditional biomass fuels, such as wood, crop residues, and animal dung, remain the primary energy source for more than 2 billion people.

United States

In 1991, Americans spent about $1,975 per person on all energy purchases. This represents about 7.7% of the U.S. gross domestic product. For comparison, in 1991 Americans spent about $2,280 per capita for housing and about $2,565 for medical needs.

Per capita, the United States ranks second in worldwide energy consumption among the industrialized nations.

America uses about 15 times more energy per person than does the typical developing country.

The United States spends about $440 billion annually for energy. Energy costs U.S. consumers $200 billion and U.S. manufacturers $100 billion annually.

The U.S. industrial sector consumed 39% of the nation's energy in 1990.

In 1990, commercial buildings accounted for nearly 11% of U.S. total energy consumption.

Residential appliances, including heating and cooling equipment and water heaters, consume 90% of all energy used in the U.S. residential sector.

Today, 36% of U.S. energy is consumed in electricity generation. By 2010, that will rise to 41%.

The transportation sector consumed 35% of the nation's energy in 1990; this sector is 97% dependent on petroleum.

Fossil Fuel Use

The United States consumes about 17 million barrels of oil per day, of which nearly two-thirds is used for transportation. Oil provides more than 40% of the nation's primary energy (energy in its naturally occurring form before conversion to end-use forms).

The United States imports more than seven million barrels of oil per day.

Fossil fuels are depleted at a rate that is 100,000 times faster than they are formed.

Opportunities

A decrease of only 1% in industrial energy use would save the equivalent of about 55 million barrels of oil per year, worth about $1 billion.

Within 15 years, renewable energy could be generating enough electricity to power 40 million homes and offset 70 days of oil imports.

Natural gas supplies the equivalent of 35 million barrels of oil each day, and its use is growing more rapidly than that of any other major source.

New Technologies and Initiatives

The high initial cost of active solar systems--ranging from $2,000 for small water-heating systems to more than $8,000 for residential space-heating systems--is the main reason for low sales in the United States. Cooling systems cost $10,000 to $20,000 for typical homes.

Wind power has the potential to supply a large fraction--probably at least 20%--of U.S. electricity demand at an economical price.

Providing power for villages in developing countries is a fast-growing market for photovoltaics. The United Nations estimates that more than 2 million villages worldwide are without electric power for water supply, refrigeration, lighting, and other basic needs, and the cost of extending the utility grids is prohibitive, $23,000 to $46,000 per kilometer in 1988.

References

1. World Resources, 1990-1991, World Resources Institute, 1992.

2. "Energy and the Developing Countries," Fueling Development: Energy Technologies for Developing Countries, 1992.

3. "Energy from the Sun," Scientific American, September 1990.

4. Energy Conservation: Technical Efficiency and Program Effectiveness, Congressional Research Service Issues Brief, April 13, 1993.

5. "In Solar Village, Sunshine is Put in Harness," U.S. News and World Report, February 11, 1985.

6. Renewable Energy: A New National Commitment?, Science Policy Research Division, Congressional Research Service, April 27, 1993.

7. Expanding Energy Savings by Accelerating Market Diffusion of Efficient Technologies: Three Case Studies, The Center for Applied Research, February 1992.

8. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1993, 113th edition, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1994.

9. The World Almanac and Book of Facts: 1994, World Almanac, 1994.