The reason energy usage interests me is that it is such an enormous component of the impact we have on the world. If one is to strive for an enlightened existence, energy usage should be an object of examination.
There are a number of reasons to be critical of the way we power our lives and our economy. Energy usage affects:
Global warming. Burning fossil fuel generates CO2 in direct relation to the amount of fuel burned.
Limited fossil fuel supply. This is a subject of rich debate. Societal impact could be staggering, but I don't believe it's as immediate as some suggest.
Environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction. See, for example, salt extraction technology and deforestation, drilling in the ANWR, etc.
Required reading for any discussion on fossil fuel consumption is Ending the Oil Age by Charles Komanoff. Komanoff's data come from the US Department of Energy; his analysis is outstanding, and his suggestions are practical. I think Charlie's got the starting point for any serious effort to reduce oil consumption or dependence in this country.
I am considering purchasing a Brand Electronics power meter (which will likely push me towards a LCD monitor and fully fluorescent lighting).
Lighting. LED vs. incandescent--no difference unless filtered. Fluorescent and HID win.
I'm not sure how to put this nicely:
The "hydrogen economy" is a boondoggle.
Hydrogen has the advantage of zero tailpipe emissions. Net emissions depend on the source of the hydrogen, and can be significantly higher than alternatives.
MWH required.
Steam reforming of natural gas.
Clean electric power.
Biodiesel is a diesel replacement fuel made from vegetable oil. It's sort of a miracle substance, non-toxic and non-flammable, it can be stored in above-ground containers and shipped via UPS. It's biodegradable, speeds up the breakdown of oil spills; its introduction in small percentages (B20) has significant impact on the carcinogens produced by burning conventional diesel.
An important question about biodiesel is "does it actually reduce fossil fuel consumption?" See the discussion of ethanol. Biodiesel production may be less energy-intensive than ethanol production.
Burning straight vegetable oil in a diesel is possible and involves lower process energies.
Lots on biodiesel at the National Biodiesel Board . A renewable fuel that's remarkably cleaner than the petroleum-based fuel it replaces.
If you're intrigued, spend lots of time checking out the very informative Veggie Van site, where you can pick up a book on converting your Mercedes 300D to run on vegetable oil....
More on alternative fuels: someone at Virginia Wesleyan has compiled an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Directory with lots of interesting links.
Cornell researcher Pimentel and the USDA disagree about the economics of ethanol production. Pimentel is correct in using the higher heating value--the USDA study's insistence on using the lower heating value makes it suspect. Clearly process improvements are likely to improve the economics of ethanol production.
The most exciting EV work I've found is AC Propulsion. These folks are playing with high-performance, long-range electric vehicles that include "vehicle-to-grid" power transfer that can be used to supply regulation services (or possibly reserves) to the grid, extending its capacity and possibly buffering output from variable electric inputs like wind or solar.
Other folks of interest include
Not much to add here, other than a note that I believe the cost of disposing of nuclear fuel is paid for by the DOE, not by a fund taken from nuclear power revenues; further, that cost roughly doubles the cost per kWH that's been paid already. Here in the Northeast, where 30% of our power is nuclear, we've accumulated a debt of maybe $5000 per resident for fuel disposal.
All this analysis needs to be vetted.
John S. Denker has done the sort of analysis I'd envisioned; until I can research it, check out his Magnitude of Energy Resources, which includes some figures for the rate of total energy consumption for the US and the world as a whole.
(insert table here of joules, btus, gasoline gallons, oil, etc.)