The National Academies: What You Need To Know About Energy

The National Academies

What You Need To Know About Energy

As debates about energy grow more intense, Americans need dependable, objective, and authoritative energy information. The National Academies, advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, provide the facts about energy—a complex issue that affects us as individuals and as a nation.

Uses

Discover how the strength of American industry, speed of transportation, and countless modern conveniences all come from our ingenious use of energy.

Sources

The United States depends on a variety of energy sources. What advantages and challenges does each one present to our nation and its people?

Costs

Learn about the costs of our unprecedented standard of living—to the environment, to our national security, and to irreplaceable resources.

Efficiency

Increasing supply isn't the only answer to a stable energy future. Discover how reducing demand through improved efficiency achieves the same effect.

What do you know about energy?

In 2008, approximately how much energy did the United States use?

  • Sorry, that’s incorrect.
    In 2008, the United States used approximately 99.2 quads. One quad is about as much total energy as the city of Chicago requires in one year.
  • Correct!
    In 2008, the United States used approximately 99.2 quads. One quad is about as much total energy as the city of Chicago requires in one year.
  • Sorry, that’s incorrect.
    In 2008, the United States used approximately 99.2 quads. One quad is about as much total energy as the city of Chicago requires in one year.

Energy Defined

Ampere
A unit of measure for electric current that refers to the amount of electric charge passing a point per unit of time. Ampere is frequently abbreviated to “amp.”

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