Let’s Talk About Energy Use

Energy security is considered to be a critical part of the energy transition and ensures that we have a diverse range of energy sources, whilst reducing our reliance on oil, gas and coal. But do you know where the energy you use comes from?

We use energy in various ways, for cooling and heating but also for running lights, devices and appliances we use everyday or have at home. This also applies to cars, buses, boats and planes which are integral parts of our daily lives and have an impact on us and the way we are living. But where does all of this energy actually comes from? What are the different types of energy used in order to produce the energy or objects you are using on a daily basis or without giving it too much thought?

We differentiate between several types of energy sources:

• Fossil fuels such as coal oil and natural gas are often used to produce and generate heat and electricity by being burned
• Renewable sources such as sunlight and wind used for generating electricity

These sources are called Primary Energy as there is no need for modification or processing before being used for energy production.

Moreover, electricity makes up the Secondary Energy by the fact that it is being produced from primary energy sources like crude oil turned into different types of fuels and products.

Additional classifications of energy sources also include the so-called Final Energy and Useful Energy, describing how energy is made available to us for making use of it as consumers (e.g. electricity provided to our homes through a grid system) and how energy sources are used to power appliances or produce heat for cooking or warmth. 

Picture credits: “7 ways you can save energy”, IEA

But how can we effectively reduce wasting energy?

One way is to take up renovation measures such as insulating roofs or switching of our appliances when we don’t use them. We can also try to shift our behaviour around using energy in our homes and thus choose a more efficient way of using energy. We could for instance do that by only boiling the amount of water we really need to enjoy a nice cup of tea or to take the train or bike to work instead of driving a car. Aside from our own behavioural changes, we can also try to better use our energy through making our appliances more efficient, which can be done by installing energy-saving light bulbs or updating our current heating system.

 “Energy use” is part of Every1’s Digital Energy Essentials Courses, hosted on The Open University (UK)’s OpenLearn Create platform. The courses will soon become available in an accessible, easy-to-use online format and downloadable in different formats. The Every1 project is also developing accompanying offline versions of the courses.