The National Academies
What You Need To Know About Energy
What do you know about energy?
True or False: Burning biofuels does not release carbon dioxide.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Biofuels contain carbon and although they may burn “cleaner” than oil-derived fuels, they do not avoid generating carbon dioxide emissions.
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Correct!
Biofuels contain carbon and although they may burn “cleaner” than oil-derived fuels, they do not avoid generating carbon dioxide emissions.
True or False: Lighting accounts for 18% of all electricity used in the United States.
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Correct!
Lighting accounts for 18% of the electricity used in the United States. A 12% decrease in overall electricity use in buildings could be realized if incandescent bulbs were replaced with CFL or LED bulbs.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Lighting accounts for 18% of the electricity used in the United States. A 12% decrease in overall electricity use in buildings could be realized if incandescent bulbs were replaced with CFL or LED bulbs.
The consumption of energy worldwide is projected to rise by how much between 2006 and 2030?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Worldwide consumption of energy sources is projected to rise by nearly 50% between 2006 and 2030.
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Correct!
Worldwide consumption of energy sources is projected to rise by nearly 50% between 2006 and 2030.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Worldwide consumption of energy sources is projected to rise by nearly 50% between 2006 and 2030.
About how much of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
More than a quarter of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States.
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Correct!
More than a quarter of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
More than a quarter of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States.
How much carbon dioxide is emitted by the average U.S. car driving one mile?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The average U.S. car gets 21.4 mpg. About 19 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted for every gallon burned, or 0.9 lb/mile.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The average U.S. car gets 21.4 mpg. About 19 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted for every gallon burned, or 0.9 lb/mile.
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Correct!
The average U.S. car gets 21.4 mpg. About 19 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted for every gallon burned, or 0.9 lb/mile.
Which energy sources together account for 84% of the energy used in the United States?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) account for 84% of the energy used in the United States.
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Correct!
Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) account for 84% of the energy used in the United States.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) account for 84% of the energy used in the United States.
What percentage of America's total energy came from wind in 2008?
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Correct!
In 2008, wind accounted for 0.5% of America's energy portfolio.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In 2008, wind accounted for 0.5% of America's energy portfolio.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In 2008, wind accounted for 0.5% of America's energy portfolio.
Most of the world's energy originates from which two primary sources:
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Correct!
The energy we capture for use on Earth comes largely from the sun or from nuclear forces local to our own planet.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The energy we capture for use on Earth comes largely from the sun or from nuclear forces local to our own planet.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
The energy we capture for use on Earth comes largely from the sun or from nuclear forces local to our own planet.
In 2008, what percentage of the United States' total energy consumption came from oil?
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In 2008, 37% of the United States' total energy consumption came from oil, more than any other energy source.
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Sorry, that’s incorrect.
In 2008, 37% of the United States' total energy consumption came from oil, more than any other energy source.
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Correct!
In 2008, 37% of the United States' total energy consumption came from oil, more than any other energy source.
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