Of the 92.9 quadrillion British thermal units of energy consumed by the United States in 2020, 62.3 quads were considered “discharged energy” by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. This means that more than two-thirds of the energy consumed in the United States in 2020 was released into the environment – ​​mostly as heat – and provided no economic or societal benefit. In other words, more than two-thirds of all energy consumed in 2020 was wasted. This waste comes from technological inefficiencies that allow energy to be lost in the form of heat when converting from one form of energy to another or when using technology.

These figures are concerning, but the situation is made even more distressing by the fact that these figures do not take into account the energy that was actually used but was not needed. It means that of the 30.6 quads of energy actually used, not even all of that energy was really needed. For how much energy is wasted along the way to power buildings across the United States, it makes every bit of energy that was wasted unnecessarily all the more wasteful and important.

Energy waste and unnecessary energy consumption are major problems. Energy needs cost both the United States and individuals large sums of money every year, but much of the energy we pay for is still wasted. This is an area of ​​global impact that we have a unique ability to control, because much of it is dictated and centered on our choices. Making the choice to drive a more energy-efficient car, turn off the lights, and close the window before leaving the room are all impactful actions that reduce unnecessary energy waste. Pro-efficiency choices like installing better insulation or switching to LED bulbs are also things we have control over that reduce energy waste and unnecessary use.

According to the Office of Sustainable Development’s “data dashboard,” Tufts consumed 0.86 million Btu of energy in 2020. Every light switch turned on, every window left open, and every long shower contributed to that big number. Energy waste is all around us in our daily lives, and a significant part of it comes from the actions of individuals. Transportation accounted for the bulk of petroleum-based energy consumption in the United States in 2020. That means the planes, cars, trucks, buses, and trains we all use constantly to get from A to B were the main culprits for oil energy consumption. Worse still, almost 80% of this energy was “thrown away”.

As we all enjoy Spring Break next week, I urge you to consider and appreciate the energy consumed on your journey. Keep in mind that the way you travel impacts not only the amount of energy used, but also the amount released. More than that, remember to turn off and unplug electronics and appliances before you leave to avoid unnecessary energy consumption while you’re away and help reduce energy consumption at Tufts, choice by choice.