Where energy comes from
What powers it?
Long ago
Saving energy
100

It comes from trees

wood

100

A tractor

Gasoline (diesel, oil)

100

Instead of email or text messages we had...

writing letters

100

Which takes more energy, a hot shower or a warm shower?

Heating water takes electricity or gas to heat a hot water heater. Hot showers take more energy.

200
It turns windmills

Wind

200

a remote control car

batteries

200

Instead of lights, we had...

candles & mirrors

200

Which takes more energy, a warm house, or wearing a sweater?

Heating our houses takes a lot of energy (gas or electricity). When we wear a sweater and let our house be cooler, we save electricity. 

300

It turns a waterwheel

Water

300

a cellphone

batteries

300

Instead of the internet, we had...

libraries

300

What takes more energy, driving a car or riding a bike?

Both take energy! A bike is powered by us, and we eat food for energy, and food is renewable. 

Cars use gasoline for energy and it is hard to get. It is non-renewable.

Both take energy, but biking is better for the environment.

400

It is sucked up from deep underground

oil

400

Chargers

electricty

400

Instead of cars, we had...

horses and walking

400

What takes more energy, using a cloth shopping bag, or a plastic shopping bag?

Both take energy! 

It takes energy to grow the cotton, harvest it and make it into fabric, and then into a bag.

It takes energy to get the oil, process it, make it into fabric and then make it into a bag.

Cotton fabric is decomposable. Plastic shopping bags are not decomposable.

500

It is dug up (mined) from deep underground

coal

500

solar panels

the sun

500

Instead of excavators, we had...

shovels

500

Which takes more energy, bringing food in wrappers for lunch, or bringing food in reusable containers?

Both take energy!

Wrappers are thin and can only be used once. They are made of plastic.

Containers are thick and can be washed and used many times. They are made of plastic.