What kinds of energy do we use, and how do we use it?
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has developed an “atlas” for 136 countries of data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and estimates of energy use patterns for the year 2007.
“Energy can be visualized as it flows from resources (i.e. coal, petroleum, natural gas) through transformations such as electricity generation to end uses (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, transportation). “
Here’s Canada’s (click for larger version):
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Interesting observation: rejected energy, mainly from petroleum used for transportation, is greater than the energy we productively use for all purposes.
For 135 other countries, go here.
They are basing their rejected energy amounts on an efficiency ratio of 25% for transportation. That is probably generous for most piston engines. Most of the energy goes off as heat and is not useable. Jet engines might be a bit better and electric motors are much better, but there aren’t very many electric motors in the transport sector.