If you want to know how much energy it takes to generate and transmit electricity, and how much energy is used in transportation versus industry or residential, please see:
NREL, *Energy Overview from NREL*. 2006, NREL. http://lenr-canr.org/acrobat/NRELenergyover.pdf The only thing this does not cover is energy overhead; that is, the energy cost of producing energy. Here is the abstract I wrote for this document: Pages 2 – 16 are from the U.S. DoE Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy (NREL), Hydrogen Program Plan--FY 1993--FY 1997, June 1992, Appendixes A and C. Page 17 shows a graph published by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2001. The graph shows that most energy is lost as “rejected energy” (waste heat), especially in Electricity generation (70% waste) and Transportation (80% waste). Better technology would greatly reduce this waste. Most generators convert only 33% of the heat from burning coal or gas into electricity; advanced generators convert 40%. Most automobiles convert only 15% of the heat from gasoline into useful vehicle propulsion; hybrid and electric automobiles convert 30% or more. This graph is based on the DoE Energy Information Administration *Annual Energy Review*. This review is an excellent, comprehensive source of online information. The *Annual Energy Review* is here: http://205.254.135.24/totalenergy/data/annual/index.cfm This is one of the few books that is so useful, I print it on paper periodically and keep it on the shelf. - Jed
