Energy Challenges and the Role of Education

Abstract

In the United States, public knowledge of energy and energy use is not exceptional. Twenty seven percent of adults in the United States report that the majority of our energy comes from fossil fuel sources. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, petroleum, coal, and natural gas account for 35%, 18%, 28% of energy consumption, respectively. Four out of ten Americans believe that hydroelectric power is the top energy source in the United States while in reality 2.6% comes from hydroelectric power sources. Ten percent comes from all renewables. The majority of Americans will agree global warming is happening and an increasing number of Americans have agreed with that statement in recent years. However, only about half of Americans believe global warming is related to human behavior while human behavior is accepted as a global warming factor in scientific research. Knowledge that we need to do something does not always correlate positively with human actions. According to a PEW research poll, 75% report concern for the environment. From this same survey (The Politics of Climate, PEW Research Center), 20% say they make an effort to act on this concern all the time. Of this 20% who make an effort to act, 57% see climate change issues as a great deal. 46% of United States adults contribute climate change to human activity. Knowledge of energy does not seem to positively affect consumption behavior, as high school students show a decrease in energy-conserving behaviors when compared to their middle school counterparts. It is quite possible there are other factors involved. For example, as a person grows they may be using more electrical energy because of be-