Electrical energy is made in different ways, and it’s super important for powering our homes. Here’s a simple breakdown of the main sources of electricity:

1. Fossil Fuels:

   • About 63% of electricity around the world comes from fossil fuels.
   • These include coal, natural gas, and oil.
   • To make energy, these fuels are burned, creating heat. This heat is then used to turn turbines, which generate electricity.

2. Renewable Energy:

   • Renewable sources, like wind, solar, water (hydroelectric), and biomass, make up about 29% of global electricity.
   • Solar Energy: Solar panels change sunlight into electricity, usually with about 15-20% efficiency.
   • Wind Energy: Wind turbines take energy from the wind and turn it into mechanical energy, producing about 2.5 kWh for every kW of capacity each year.
   • Hydropower: Water flow is used to create energy, and hydropower plants can produce around 3-6 kWh for every watt installed annually.

3. Nuclear Energy:

   • Roughly 8% of the world’s electricity comes from nuclear power.
   • Nuclear reactors create heat through special reactions, and this heat turns water into steam, which then helps turn turbines to make electricity.

After electricity is made, it travels through power lines to substations and then to homes. In 2021, the average U.S. household used about 877 kWh each month. This is about $1,200 a year, based on a rate of$0.13 per kWh.

In our homes, electricity runs many things, such as:

• Lighting: About 12% of household energy goes to lighting.
• Heating and Cooling: This uses nearly 46% of energy at home.
• Appliances: Refrigerators use about 13%, and washing machines use around 5% of energy.

Understanding how we generate and use electrical energy helps us see why using energy wisely is important in our everyday lives.