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8 Amazing Energy Facts
Only 10% of energy in a light bulb is used to create light. Ninety percent of a light bulb’s energy creates heat.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 80% less electricity than conventional bulbs and last up to 12 times longer.
Refrigerators in the U.S. consume about the same energy as 25 large power plants produce each year.
The amount of energy Americans use doubles every 20 years. From 2008 to 2030, world energy consumption is expected to increase more than 55%.
About 5,000 years ago, the energy people consumed for their survival averaged about 12,000 kilocalories per person each day.
In AD 1400, each person was consuming about twice as much energy (26,000 kilocalories).
After the Industrial Revolution, the demand almost tripled to an average of 77,000 kilocalories per person in 1875.
By 1975, it had tripled again to 230,000 kilocalories per person.
Ten countries produce 2/3 of the world’s oil and hold the same percentage of known reserves. Saudi Arabia tops both lists.
The most powerful hydroelectric project in the world is China’s Three Gorges Dam.
The controversial and enormous power plant brings power to millions of Chinese villagers and will generate more than 22,000 megawatts from six generators.
Over 86% of the energy used in the U.S. each year is from the combustion of fossil fuels.
America burns nearly half of the world’s gasoline.
American hospitals are some of the most energy-intense buildings on the planet.