The National Academies
What You Need To Know About Energy
Our Energy Sources
Fossil Fuels
The United States gets 84% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which are fossil fuels. We depend on fossil fuels to heat our homes, run our vehicles, power industry and manufacturing, and provide us with electricity. Eventually, the degree to which we depend on fossil fuels will have to lessen as the planet’s known supplies diminish, the difficulty and cost of tapping remaining reserves increases, and the effect of their continued use on our planet grows more dire. But shifting to new energy sources will take time. In the meantime, what do we need to know about fossil fuels?
Energy Hands-on
Understanding Efficiency
Learn the significance of energy efficiencyOur Energy System
A visualization of all our energy sourcesWhat do you know about energy?
About how much of the world’s coal reserves are located in the United States?
-
Sorry, that’s incorrect.More than a quarter of the world’s coal reserves are located in the United States.
-
Correct!More than a quarter of the world’s coal reserves are located in the United States.
-
Sorry, that’s incorrect.More than a quarter of the world’s coal reserves are located in the United States.
Energy Defined
National Academies Press
Search the National Academies Press website by selecting one of these related terms.
