Energy demand: Difference between revisions
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[[Energy units]]: '''W''' (watts per capita, ''averaged over time''. This is not the same as ''peak'' watts). | [[Energy units]]: '''W''' (watts per capita, ''averaged over time''. This is not the same as ''peak'' watts). | ||
{{p2|(example)|Suppose an [[electric car]] charger operates at 4800 watts, but the car is only charging for 2 hours per day on average. So the wattage ''averaged over time'' is 400 watts. Also note: If a family of 2 people owns 1 of these cars, then that's 200 ''watts per capita''.}} | {{p2|(example)|Suppose an [[electric car]] charger operates at 4800 watts, but the car is only charging for 2 hours per day on average. So the wattage ''averaged over time'' is 400 watts. Also note: If a family of 2 people owns 1 of these cars, then that's 200 ''watts per capita''.}} | ||
* {{ | * {{minor|Non-electric energy usage (fuel) is still measured in watts, this same way, for the sake of comparison.}} | ||
{|class="wikitable" | {|class="wikitable" | ||
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|Residential - [[cooling]] {{p|varies with the weather and local climate}} | |Residential - [[cooling]] {{p|varies with the weather and local climate}} | ||
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|Residential - other {{p| | |Residential - '''other''' {{p|Electricity that isn't used for heating, hot water or cooling.<br /><br />{{light|A lot of websites that teach you how to "save energy" are centered on this. But as you can see, it's actually quite a small part of energy demand!}} }} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Commercial {{p|This is not split into heating/cooling/misc (unlike for residential) due to lack of more detailed data.}} | |Commercial {{p|This is not split into heating/cooling/misc (unlike for residential) due to lack of more detailed data.}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Industrial {{p|Almost all of this is ''manufacturing''. Other industrial processes include agriculture & mining (surprisingly minor in terms of energy use).}} <!-- TODO: split up industrial into "manufacturing" and "other industry"; gotta find a good way to work this into existing page structure --> | |Industrial {{p|Almost all of this is ''manufacturing''. Other industrial processes include agriculture & mining (surprisingly minor in terms of energy use).}} <!-- TODO: split up industrial into "manufacturing" and "other industry"; gotta find a good way to work this into existing page structure --> | ||
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|Transportation {{p|Includes passenger vehicles, freight trucks, and to a lesser extent: trains, planes and ships}} <!-- TODO: split up transport. freight trucks and ships are affected by what ppl buy. planes are affected by how much people fly. trains are minor in any case. --> | |||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 20:03, 20 May 2023
This page is an attempt to estimate how much energy it takes to sustain a reasonable quality of life in a developed country.
Tables
Energy units: W (watts per capita, averaged over time. This is not the same as peak watts). (example)Suppose an electric car charger operates at 4800 watts, but the car is only charging for 2 hours per day on average. So the wattage averaged over time is 400 watts. Also note: If a family of 2 people owns 1 of these cars, then that's 200 watts per capita.
- Non-electric energy usage (fuel) is still measured in watts, this same way, for the sake of comparison.
| Status quobased on OECD countries, most of which are developed | Status quo, electrifiedall vehicles electric instead of fossil fuels ~ Estimated based on the energy footprint of lithium-ion batteries. |
Minimal consumptionInvolves major personal & social changes: ~ Public transit and walkability ~ Frugalism ~ Abolishing planned obsolescence and code bloat | |
| Residential - heating varies with the weather and local climate | |||
| Residential - hot water | |||
| Residential - cooling varies with the weather and local climate | |||
| Residential - other Electricity that isn't used for heating, hot water or cooling. A lot of websites that teach you how to "save energy" are centered on this. But as you can see, it's actually quite a small part of energy demand! | |||
| Commercial This is not split into heating/cooling/misc (unlike for residential) due to lack of more detailed data. | |||
| Industrial Almost all of this is manufacturing. Other industrial processes include agriculture & mining (surprisingly minor in terms of energy use). | |||
| Transportation Includes passenger vehicles, freight trucks, and to a lesser extent: trains, planes and ships |
Note on reducing environmental impacts
- When it comes to climate change: Energy usage is the main culprit.
- Home electricity is just a small part of this. The best thing people can do is drive less and buy less.
- Note: This is targeted at the average person who lives in a developed country. If you are poor, you probably don't need to consume less.
- Home electricity is just a small part of this. The best thing people can do is drive less and buy less.
- When it comes to habitat loss: Land usage is the main culprit.
- The best thing people can do is eat more plant-based and waste less food.
See also
- Energy demand scenarios (an older analysis)