Who Consumes the Most Energy in the World?
Almost everyone in the world uses energy. This includes homes, businesses, industries, and more. But how does the consumption of energy affect our environment?
China
During the past two decades, China has become the world’s second-largest electricity producer and the most significant energy importer. In July of 2021.1, China’s primary energy consumption was 1.6 times that of the United States. It is estimated that China’s energy demand will continue to grow.
One of the country’s energy strategies is to develop renewables. It is estimated that biomass use is equivalent to oil consumption. However, China’s biomass production has been falling since the 1980s.
Solar and wind are the main components of China’s renewable energy strategy. The Chinese government plans to increase its renewable energy capacity to 20% by 2030. It is also cutting the feed-in tariff for solar power in half.
United States
Unlike many other countries, the United States has been the largest energy consumer in the world since the industrial revolution. The country produces more biomass power than any other country and uses the most oil and coal.
The Department of Energy tracks the energy consumption of the United States across four broad sectors. These sectors are residential, commercial, transportation, and industrial.
The residential sector, which includes homes, apartments, and other residential buildings, accounts for about one-third of the total energy produced in the U.S. The commercial industry provides for business and industrial buildings and is the second largest user.
Germany
Almost two-thirds of the energy consumed in Germany is derived from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas. The country’s energy policy is based on the “Energiewende,” or “energy transition.” The goal is to produce 60% of the final electricity consumption in the country from renewable sources by 2050.
In the first half of 2019, emissions decreased by 4.5 percent compared to the same period in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to the increased electricity generation from renewable sources. The energy sector has also reduced emissions by decommissioning older conventional power plants.
Japan
Despite its relatively high economic growth, Japan is one of the world’s largest energy consumers. Oil and coal account for more than 60% of the nation’s energy use. Nevertheless, Japan is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. The country is also working to increase its nuclear energy capacity.
In a 10-year energy plan, the Japanese government set targets for the amount of power generated by nuclear reactors. In the plan, nuclear was expected to represent 41% of the nation’s electricity by 2017. Its share of the energy mix was supposed to jump to 50% by the year 2030.
Canada
Compared to all the other nations in the world, Canada uses the most energy. The average Canadian used almost 300 gigajoules of power last year, three times the world average.
There are many reasons for this high usage of energy. The first is that Canada has a wealth of natural resources. Petroleum and natural gas are among Canada’s top energy resources.
Hydroelectricity and nuclear power are the most common sources of electricity in Canada. Combined, they provide about 60 percent of all electric generation in Canada. Some provinces, like British Columbia and New Brunswick, use various power sources.
Home energy consumption
Keeping track of your home’s energy consumption can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Understanding how much power you use daily can also tell you what you can do to reduce your energy usage.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) tracks the power used in the United States. These numbers can be found in the EIA Annual Energy Outlook Report. They also offer an appliance energy calculator that helps you determine how much your appliances cost.
The average energy consumed in the US is 887-kilowatt hours per month, 10,649 kilowatt hours per year and 11,604-kilowatt hours for a 2,500-square-foot home. This number varies depending on the size of your home and the climate in which you live.
Impacts of energy use on the environment
Various activities have been carried out to study the impacts of energy use on the environment. Since the early 1980s, international activities have focused on these issues.
There are two primary assessment scales when comparing the environmental impacts of energy choices. They are the national and regional scales. The national scale attempts to quantify the average effect of a typical installation. The local scale aims to account for site-specific impacts.
Fossil-fuel combustion is the primary source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air pollutants. It is also the most significant contributor to global warming. Besides causing air pollution, burning fossil fuels causes health problems. In 2013, the combustion of fossil fuels produced 32 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
