Center for Reactor Information

"Did you know that...?"
— Facts about Energy

Eugene E. Voiland
August 2003

Energy is involved in our lives every minute of every day! Our bodies extract energy from food, convert it to muscle energy, heat and mental activity. We don't tend to think about this aspect of energy unless too much of it becomes stored as fat or the steak is tough. The biggest uses of energy (that we also tend to take for granted, unless the prices skyrocket) are electricity, and gasoline (derived from petroleum).

There are lots of interesting facts about energy of which many people are unaware. We thought you might like to know about some of them and prepared this list of "Did you know thats..." which we hope you will find informative.

Did you know that...

Energy is never created? It is simply transformed from one form to another, and, with the exception of nuclear energy and geothermal energy (which is due to radioactivity in the earth), all energy - from coal, oil, natural gas, etc. - is derived from the energy of the sun.

In the US in 2001, the amount of energy consumed was 97 quadrillion British Thermal Units (97,000,000,000,000,000 BTU)? (One BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. It takes about 360 BTU to raise a quart of water from the freezing point 32 degrees F to the boiling point 212 degrees F. The heat content of a gallon of gasoline is about 125,000 BTU.)

In the US in 2001, 39 % of our energy came from petroleum, 24 % from natural gas, 23 % from coal, 8 % from uranium, 3 % from wood and miscellaneous combustibles, 2.5 % from water power, and 0.1 % from solar/wind?

The United States Government each year publishes an annual energy review, and that Annual Energy Review 2001 consists of 396 pages of tables, graphs, and text? Much of the information reported in this document of Did you know thats comes from this review compendium.

Did you know that...

Crude oil production in the United States peaked in 1970 at 9,637,000 barrels (42 gallons) per day? In 2000 production was 5,822,000 barrels per day. And did you know that imports for the same years were 1,324,000 and 9,071,000 barrels per day respectively?

The United States in 1970, imported only 12 % of the 10,961,000 barrels of crude oil used every day but in 2000 it imported 61 % of the 14,893,000 barrels used?

During the period 1974 through 2000, the cost of imported oil ranged between $11.84 (1998) and $36.47 (1981) per barrel?

The value of imported oil to the U.S. in 2000 was $250,000,000 a day or $91,000,000,000 for the year?

The United States consumed 483,000,000 tons of coal in 1949 and 1,084,000,000 tons in 2000?

Did you know that

In 1950, only 19 percent of the coal consumed in the United States was used to make electricity and 23 percent was used to heat homes and commercial businesses; but in 2000, 91 percent of the coal was used to make electricity and less than one percent was used in the residential/commercial sector?

Electricity-producing windmills are not very productive in the summer and the winter (they generate less than 25% of their capacity during these periods), when electricity is most needed?

In the 20 countries using the highest amount of energy, the people live 25 to 35 years longer than those living in the 20 countries using the least amount of energy?

The electrical energy from a 1000 megawatt power plant -- typical size for a modern nuclear plant -- is equivalent to the energy of 25 million manual laborers -- and electricity is a thousand times more versatile?

Energy-use per capita in the ten countries of greatest use, is almost 300 times more than in the ten countries of least use?

Electricity

The first commercial production of electricity in the United States occurred in 1882 and rapidly revolutionized the world. Electricity's unusual value is its ability to be readily transported great distances and upon its arrival be converted to heat, light, motion, work of many kinds, items of convenience and comfort, and activities of a unique nature -- for example, electronics, which cannot be achieved by any other form of energy. Electricity can also be generated in many ways -- from the heat of about any combustible material, from water power, from the sun and from nuclear energy.

Did you know that...

In 1980, the average US family used about 740 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month and in 2000 about 950 kilowatt-hours and if this electricity were produced by burning coal it would have taken about 700 and 890 pounds of coal respectively?

A big electricity-producing power plant fueled by coal will burn about 3,000,000 tons of coal a year, but if fueled by uranium, only 30 tons of uranium?

In 1960, less than 2 percent of America's homes were heated by electricity, but in 2000, over 30 percent were?

Uranium fueled (nuclear) power plants produce over 60 percent of the electricity used in northern Illinois?

Electricity generated by wind-powered turbines is less than 0.2 percent of the total electricity generated in the United States ?

The first commercial electricity-producing plant was built in 1882 and burned 10 pounds of coal to provide one kilowatt-hour of electricity? Current coal-fired power plants use less than one pound for the same amount.

Nuclear Electricity

The production of electricity using nuclear energy as the heat source has become commonplace and accounts for about 17 percent of the electricity produced world-wide.

During the development of nuclear electricity, those opposed to its acceptance sought to stop or delay its advance by the use of spurious but frightening allegations. These have proven unfounded. It is scientifically impossible for a nuclear reactor to explode like an atom bomb.

In the United States, no significant releases of radioactive materials or radiation have occurred in many years of reactor operation. Even in the destruction of the Three Mile Island reactor by nuclear meltdown, no significant release occurred. In the United States, no-one has been fatally or even seriously exposed to radiation from electric power production activities.

Currently, in the United States, a disposal site for spent nuclear fuel is in the process of being completed and licensed.

Over time, the performance of nuclear power plants has improved and nuclear energy has proved to be a safe, reliable, economical, and environmentally friendly source of electricity.

Did you know that...

Electricity has been produced commercially from the fission of uranium for almost 50 years?

Today, electricity is produced from nuclear energy in 29 different countries?

In the United States, at this time, there are 104 operating reactors producing electricity. In the world there are 494 operating reactors?

Did you know that...

In the United States to date, there have been 2300 reactor-years of operation and in the world 8200 reactor-years?

At the present time, about 20 percent of the electricity generated in the United States and 17 percent produced in the World is from power produced by the fission of uranium and plutonium?

The Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Hungary, Sweden, Belgium, France, and the Ukraine all produce a greater part of their electricity from nuclear power than does the United States?

In 1976, the average electricity production by a nuclear power plant was only 70 percent of its rated capacity, but that in 2002 the capacity factor had risen to 90 percent? The increase in added electrical output from this improved performance was equivalent to building over 25 new power plants.

Some uranium-fueled electric power plants have operated continuously for over a year without having to shut down for maintenance or refueling?

The average residential use of electricity in the US for the year 2000 was about 11,400 kilowatt-hours per residence? Did you know if that amount of electricity were produced from coal, five-and-a-half tons would be needed? if from petroleum, 800 gallons? if from natural gas, 110,000 cubic feet? and if from fission of uranium fuel, less than 1 ounce would be used?

Did you know that...

The worst accident of a nuclear facility in the United States, destruction of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania, resulted in an increase of about one percent to the natural radiation dose to people in the locale? No injury ensued from the Three Mile Island event other, perhaps, than mental trauma brought on by the hysterical reporting of the media.

We humans -- as well as the environment we live in -- are continually bombarded by ionizing radiation; some from outer space, some from natural radioactivity in the earth, and some from the potassium and carbon in our bodies which are essential for life?

All living creatures require the element potassium to live and that potassium is very slightly radioactive? Apparently living creatures have learned to live with this chronic exposure to radiation -- or they wouldn't be around!

For over 50 years, an independent supranational organization, the International Commission on Radiological Protection, has controlled the safe use of radiation by providing radiation dose limits for workers exposed to radiation and to members of the general public?

Some Benefits of Nuclear Technology and Radiation

Did you know that...

Over 400,000 jobs exist in the nuclear power industry, and nine times as many are in work that involves the use of radioisotopes and radioactive materials?

Four percent of people employed in the US are employed in some aspect of nuclear technology?

Radioactive tracer compounds are used to qualify most drugs for FDA approval and that often this is the only viable way to attain such approval?

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of radiation for treating meat thus providing the same protection against E. Coli, salmonella and other bacteria that pasteurization provides against tuberculosis in milk?

42 nations have approved the use of food treated by radiation?

In October of 2002, 3.2 million pounds of ground beef were recalled though bearing the USDA seal of inspection and that such costly recall action could be avoided in the future by the use of radiation sterilization?

Did you know that...

There are between 24 and 80 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually in the US and that most of these could be eliminated by the use of radiation to sterilize the food?

Irradiation of foodstuffs markedly extends the shelf life and "freshness" period of fruits, vegetables, poultry, seafood and meat?

Hospitals frequently feed people with deficient immune systems irradiated food to lessen the risk of infection?

The diets of astronauts on space missions contain foodstuffs that have been irradiated to reduce the risk of infection?

Did you know that...

In 1990, there were about 10 million nuclear medical diagnostic procedures and 30,000 nuclear therapeutic procedures performed?

The use of radioactive materials to provide imaging of various organs has taken the place of "exploratory" surgery for many diagnostic activities?

Radiation is used to sterilize a multitude of pre-packaged medicinal items: hypodermic needles, surgical supplies, kidney transplant kits, dialysis units, First Aid Kits and more?

Cosmetics are frequently sterilized with radiation?

Nuclear Energy and the Environment

Today, in some circles, there is concern that the emission of "greenhouse gases" including carbon dioxide may contribute to the warming of the earth's environment. Whether this hypothesis is true remains to be proven. It is undisputed, however, that nuclear fueled electric power plants avoid this issue because they emit no gases, greenhouse or otherwise.

Did you know that...

Nuclear fueled electricity-producing power plants emit no gases -- greenhouse or otherwise -- other than those from the (infrequent) testing of the emergency diesel-electric generators that are part of the safety system?

A big electricity producing power plant fueled by coal emits about 8,000,000 tons of greenhouse gases each year? That a uranium-fueled plant of the same size emits 0 tons of carbon dioxide (or any other gas)?

In the year 2000, residences in the US were responsible for emitting 1,175,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide?

In the year 2000, industrial activities in the US were responsible for emitting 1,750,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide?

In the year 2000, transportation activities in the US were responsible for emitting 1,190,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide?

In the year 2000, commercial activities in the US were responsible for emitting 1,005,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide?

Did you know that...

In the year 2000, electric utilities emitted 2,400,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, petroleum), but that nuclear electric plants emitted no carbon dioxide?

A big coal burning electric power plant (500 megawatts) emits 100 pounds of carbon dioxide every second and an equivalent nuclear fueled plant emits none?

The world emission of carbon dioxide is about 24,000,000,000 tons or about four tons for every man, woman, and child on earth?

Miscellaneous

Did you know that...

The federal government has approved a site -- Yucca Mountain in Nevada -- for disposal of the high level waste from nuclear power plants and has authorized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare a license for its use?

Radiation has been used to produce sterile male insects that ineffectively mate with females and interrupt the breeding cycle, thereby essentially eradicating certain diseases propagated through this cycle?

Coal contains on the average 1.3 parts per million of uranium and 3.2 parts per million of thorium, both naturally radioactive materials and that almost 5000 tons of these radioactive materials were discarded in the ash from the 1,060,000,000 tons of coal burned in the US in 2001?

Most smoke detectors contain a very small amount of a radioactive material americium, that this material is not controlled, and is discarded as ordinary trash?

Did you know that...

Detailed engineering analyses have determined that nuclear reactor containment vessels would not be penetrated by an airplane impact even greater than the ones that destroyed the World Trade Center towers?

In 2000, only 0.04 percent of America's homes were heated by solar energy?

All the information provided in the above document is referenced, mostly from the Annual Energy Review 2001 published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585.

For additional information, please contact CFRI, an independent organization of retirees with extensive nuclear experience.