Facts About Energy
When you turn off an appliance, it may continue to consume electricity when switched off. Sometimes they use as much power off as when they're on!
Ever since the beginning of time, or at least the last millennia, humankind has been trying to build a machine that puts out more energy or work than what was put into it. None has succeeded.
The Sun gives off enough energy in one day to power the entire world for a year.
The sun uses nuclear fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium atoms. This gives off heat and light and other radiation.
In 2005, wind accounted for 1% of the total electricity production in the world.
The largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California.
Oil's most known product gasoline costs in Saudi Arabia about 45 cents a gallon and in Venezuela just a quarter of the dollar.
Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy. Tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.
37% of the electricity generated worldwide is produced from coal.
Facts About Energy
Understanding Energy
It's important to understand the facts about energy both truth and myth. You will find the most current energy facts on this website. Energy has always been in use in some way, shape, or fashion throughout the ages and will always be used in the future.
Facts About Energy 101
The widespread belief that energy and civilization are inextricably linked certainly has historical foundation. Throughout history, humans have focused on controlling the energy stores and flows that are part of nature.
Before the modern era, people relied for power on their own muscles, on the muscles of domesticated animals, such as horses and oxen, and on water and wind. People used these energy resources to create a variety of significant landscapes, from agricultural fields and grazing land to mining centers and commercial woodlots, and they built the towns and cities and transportation networks of ancient civilizations. The technologies that relied on these energy resources are familiar to us all: axes, picks, plows, harnesses, wagons and carriages, waterwheels, windmills, and sailing ships.
Facts About Energy 201
The modern era began with the eighteenth century introduction of steam power to English coal mines by Thomas Savery and Thomas Newcomen.
Among the technological challenges in using inanimate energy resources is the transmission of power. Toward the end of the eighteenth century, fascination with the phenomenon of electricity captured many people.
As electricity use became ubiquitous during the twentieth century, the exploitation of energy resources increased enormously. Hydroelectricity continued to play an important role in the modern energy matrix, but accessible water power sites were soon tapped.