Energy Consumption

Energy consumption refers to the consumption of energy, in the form of raw biomass, processed fuels, or electricity, to provide heat, cooling, light, motive power, and other services that support and enhance human activity. Energy consumption did not really become a subject of academic or policy interest until after the so-called oil shocks of the 1970s. Prior to the 1970s, access to energy was considered to be infinite, and growth in the consumption of energy was taken for granted. Energy planning was a forecasting activity in which future demand was based on recent growth trends. The task was to bring enough production on line to meet the projected demand. The environmental side effects of energy use were not an issue in energy planning. The theory ...