Energy
this month we are starting off liNk with Energy. It certainly is a hot topic right now with the onset of the winter months (this side of the world) and the continued increase of fuel prices. There is something very foundational about the way we understand energy because it affects nearly everything we do and are involved with. But, is Energy a topic just for the western world? Does this affect the rest of the world and more specifically how is it linked to the poor and does any of it have anything to do with us and our own lifestyles and choices?
What is energy?
The dictionary says that energy is any source of useable power. Basically, it is what’s needed to do something, to make action, to get something done. Whether it’s our bodies using energy from food to live our lives, or the use of gas to power my stove. It’s a means to an end.... it’s a way of producing something.
Fossil fuels are where most of the world gets their energy needs from. Coal, oil and gas are all fossil fuels; they were formed from the decomposition of plant and animal matter over a very long time, thus the word, “fossil”.
Over the years, as our countries and industry have grown so has our need for fossil fuels. In fact it has been the discovery of the use of these fossil fuels that has become the backbone in catalysing this growth.
Right now U.S energy consumption for the entire market is:
41% - oil
24% - natural gas
23% - coal
12% - nuclear and hydropower
Utilizing these fossil fuels has enabled so much to take place, in fact almost everything we do today wasn’t possible 100 years ago. There are massive amounts of benefits in the way we travel, how we communicate, the networks of cell phones, internet, satellite and cable TV, getting ready in the morning and the convenience of so many “energy” options just at our fingertips. Along with these benefits though, we are finding that there have been repercussions of harnessing this energy the way that we have that are now unable to avoid and require our attention.
