Sources on Renewable Energy

Here is some information about our current energy use, compared to what it would cost to switch to renewable sources.

First let's look at what energy costs are now, as well as the sources and how much we use.

Currently we generate energy largely from Coal, Natural gas and Nuclear.

How much energy generated and consumed by the US was made by renewables? The EIA says

In 2013, renewable sources of energy accounted for about 10% of total U.S. energy consumption and 13% of electricity generation.

Additional Links and Sources

Cost of electricity by source--Wikipedia

Renewable energy use by country--Wikipedia

Renewable energy use by states, 2013 and 2012--Wikipedia

EIA cost of generating electricity by power plant--with many other questions at the bottom

Forbes--true cost of energy

http://www.renewable-energysources.com/

IER--levelized costs over next 20 years

PES--cents per KWH

Wind energy--AWEA

EPA renewable cost database

The Economist article with arguments about the article

NYT op-ed renewables are great but need land

Union of Concerned Scientists--see part on stable energy prices

100% Renewable Energy Wikipedia lots of good links at the bottom including

Providing Global Energy--costs, reliability and policies

Roadmap for US energy policy

EU Global Vision 2050

WWF Global Vision 2050

Added links
FAIR.org           IEER        Solutions Project          NYC Wind Solar         Mark Jacobson

Mark Jacobson CV        Securing Energy            SAFE        Sources: Energy



Cost of going green globally


World can hit 30% renewables at no extra cost



Graph on home energy use  Green infrastructure

Construction and Climate Change

In the EU, 40% of all energy is consumed in buildings.  In 2002 European Commision issued the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) that required all EU member states to upgrade their building regulations and to introduce energy certification schemes for buildings.  The EU mandated what are referred to as 20-20-20 objectives.  By 2020 the EU member states are legally bound to achieve the following objectives

• 20% reduction in emissions
• 20% renewable energies
• 20% improvement in energy efficiency

In June 2012 a progress report which assessed progress toward meeting these objectives found that while the EU was on track toward meeting the first two objectives, it was projected that with the current regulatory framework, the energy efficiency objective was not going to be met.