From USDA Home and Garden Bulletin Number 72.
Food | Mass (g) | Energy (MegaJoules) | Density (kJ/g) |
|---|---|---|---|
Cheddar Cheese | 28 | 0.477 | 17 |
Milk 2% | 244 | 0.507 | 2.07 |
Halibut | 85 | 0.498 | 5.86 |
Rice, wild | 164 | 0.694 | 4.24 |
Apple | 138 | 0.339 | 2.46 |
From ORNL, these sources of energy are physical heat rather than edible food. These liquid fuels assume standard temperature and pressure.
Fuel | Energy Density | Units |
|---|---|---|
Ethanol HHV | 23.4 | MJ/litre |
Propane | 25.5 | MJ/litre |
Automotive Gasoline | 34.8 | MJ/litre |
Jet Fuel (naptha) | 35.5 | MJ/litre |
Crude Petroleum | 38.5 | MJ/litre |
Diesel Motor Fuel | 38.7 | MJ/litre |
We can also use natural solid material to provide (heat) energy. The following values also come from ORNL.
Fuel | Energy Density | Units |
|---|---|---|
Switchgrass | 17.1 | MJ/kilogram |
Wood - HHV, bone dry | 22 | MJ/kilogram |
Coal - Anthracite | 25.2 | MJ/kilogram |
HHV - higher heating value
Human's Annual Energy Needs, with drastic assumptions about activity levels.
Human Time of Life | Joules x109 |
|---|---|
Infant | 1.1456 |
Child | 2.75 |
Male | 3.36 |
Female | 3.05 |
References
In a society grounded upon electricity, we've come to rely upon its utility. Even if wonderfully optimized, we use lots. The following associates a common household activity with its energy consumption.
Activity | Energy (kWh) | Joules |
|---|---|---|
Clothes Dryer (1 load) | 1.89 | 6792453 |
Clothes Washer (1 load/hot wash) | 6.42 | 23094000 |
Clothes Washer (1 load/cold wash) | 0.94 | 3396226 |
Electric Stove (1 family meal) | 4.15 | 14943396 |
Dishwasher (1 load) | 3.02 | 10867924 |
AC Central 20 degrees (1 hour) | 2.64 | 9509433 |
References
Objects can release energy via chemical reactions as with fire. Usually, humans put much more energy into fabricating a product than what can ever come out. This emplaced energy or embodied energy, as seen in the following table, gives an indication of this great disparity.
|
Embodied Energy |
||
|
|
MJ/kg |
MJ/m |
|
Aggregate |
0.10 |
150 |
|
Stone (local) |
0.79 |
2030 |
|
Concrete block |
0.94 |
2350 |
|
Concrete (30Mpa) |
1.30 |
3180 |
|
Concrete precast |
2.00 |
2780 |
|
Brick |
2.50 |
5170 |
|
Cellulose insulation |
3.30 |
112 |
|
Steel (recycled) |
8.90 |
37210 |
|
Steel |
32.00 |
251200 |
|
Plywood |
10.40 |
5720 |
|
Glass |
15.90 |
37550 |
|
Fibreglass insulation |
30.30 |
970 |
|
Zinc |
51.00 |
371280 |
|
Brass |
62.00 |
519560 |
|
PVC |
70.00 |
93620 |
|
Copper |
70.60 |
631164 |
|
Paint |
93.30 |
117500 |
|
Linoleum |
116.00 |
150930 |
|
Polystyrene Insulation |
117.00 |
3770 |
|
Carpet (synthetic) |
148.00 |
84900 |
|
Aluminium (recycled) |
8.10 |
21870 |
|
Aluminium |
227.00 |
515700 |
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