Last week I participated in a three-day course on energy taught by Michael Webber at UTAustin. Very shortly, I’ll have more to say on the subject, but in the meantime, it’s a good opportunity to highlight an interesting new website from the National Academies called What You Need to Know About Energy. It’s a means to help visitors understand the ways we use energy, where it comes from, and how energy efficiency and alternative sources can figure into our energy future. The more we know, the better equipped we’ll be to engage in the ongoing debate about energy policy. Here are the details:
The site provides balanced and reliable information about our energy sources, uses, and options for the future. Take a quiz to see what you already know about energy. Explore “Our Energy System” for a quick and clear overview of the energy sources we depend on in the United States and how they are used, including what each source contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. Learn compelling facts about oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, and renewable sources, such as solar and wind, including the pros and cons of each source. Compare a few cars and household appliances in “Understanding Efficiency” to see which use energy more effectively. Then rely on your new understanding of the energy situation as you make decisions about energy in your daily life, or participate in discussions about our nation’s energy options for the future.
January 21st, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I see they have a section called “Emerging technologies” and it has hydrogen, oil shales, and biofuels in it. In the same time there is not a word about EROEI (Eenergy Return Of Energy Investment) or even Peak Oil.
Which immediately means that the authors of that site are either ignorant of energy themselves or they purposefully lying
Either case, the whole thing becomes a source of misinformation so why are you promoting it?
January 21st, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Speaking of peak oil, what does that term mean? When will/did it occur?
January 21st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
If you’re asking “When will/did it occur?”, then you probably know what it means… but if you don’t, it’s the point in time at which the worldwide oil production reaches its highest ever point after which it starts declining. World oil production has been essentially flat since 2005, although the highest ever production was in August 2008 (by very little above 2005 levels though) so many people think that we have passed it. Which is a problem because it takes decades to rebuild the infrastructure around any alternative energy source, and there is actually no such source
January 21st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
What GM said. Very poor website.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:19 pm
@2 Pete,
Peak oil is a controversial topic. US oil peaked ~1971, but the world’s production peak is debated.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Sheril,
You did not answer Pete’s question. But GM was on target.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:52 pm
@Eric,
Yes she did. Thanks Sheril!
April 14th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
[...] January, I told you about a terrific new website from the National Academies called What You Need to Know About [...]