Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin rely on blockchain technology and crypto mining, which consume massive amounts of electricity and have significant carbon footprints. The lack of transparency and regulation in the industry raises concerns about the economic, social, and environmental costs associated with crypto mines.

Increased energy use per capita is linked to decreased poverty rates. Modest energy increases can lead to significant poverty reduction, but the relationship is not always linear. Factors like governance and social policies also influence poverty levels. Beyond a certain threshold, further energy increases have diminishing returns.

President Biden authorized the release of 180 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower gasoline prices amid the Russia-Ukraine War. While previous releases had modest effects, the magnitude of this release is significant. Estimates suggest a reduction of $0.15 to $0.38 per gallon at the pump.

Methane emissions from coal mines are a significant concern for greenhouse gas reduction. Certain mines, known as "superemitters," contribute a large proportion of global methane emissions. Factors like mine depth and coal rank affect methane content. While reducing coal use in electricity generation is important, mitigating methane emissions from mines needs greater attention.

Energy access plays a vital role in reducing undernourishment and improving food security. It boosts agricultural productivity, enhances food quality, reduces losses, and enables transportation. However, addressing factors like political instability and poor policies is crucial alongside increasing energy use.

Energy use influences life expectancy. Access to energy services improves well-being and extends lifespan, while deprivation has the opposite effect. Modest energy increases positively impact longevity, especially in low-energy regions. However, beyond a certain point, additional energy use has diminishing returns for life expectancy.

The Human Development Index (HDI) measures overall well-being beyond economic growth, focusing on health, education, and income. Countries with low development levels use less energy, and small energy increases lead to significant HDI improvements. Energy efficiency improvements can be made without compromising quality of life, addressing environmental concerns and promoting equity.

hile higher incomes generally lead to greater life satisfaction, it's not a guarantee. People in countries with high life satisfaction tend to use more energy, which can enhance comfort and mobility. Modest increases in energy use can significantly improve life satisfaction, but there are diminishing returns at higher levels.

While moving up the income ladder is generally accompanied by increased energy use, there are significant variations within income groups. Factors such as the economy's structure, geography, climate, lifestyle, public policy, and consumer attitudes also influence how effectively energy use translates into income.

Population growth does impact energy use, but per capita energy consumption varies greatly across countries due to factors like geography, climate, economic structure, policies, and cultural preferences. Countries with small populations can have high energy consumption, while countries with large populations may use less energy.

Major reports and initiatives by the city and its collaborators are described here in chronological order, starting in 2007. Use the drop down menu to filter the reports by subject area.

n 2021, the United States saw the addition of 851 new electric generating and storage units with at least 1 MW capacity, totaling 37,769 MW of new capacity. Wind and solar accounted for 79% of this new capacity, followed by natural gas (11%) and storage (9%).

Explore the global history of nuclear reactors from 1951 to 2022. This visualization showcases 626 operational reactors, highlighting the dominance of pressurized light water reactors (PWRs). Different reactor types exhibit geographic patterns, with retired reactors and ongoing upgrades observed in various countries. The average age of reactors in the United States was 41 years in 2021.

The use of biomass by humans can be traced back at least 1 million years to the controlled use of fire. However, the generation of electricity from biomass, known as biopower, is a more recent development. One of the earliest biopower plants was the São José da Estiva power station in Brazil, which began operating in 1900.

In 2020, 437 new solar electricity projects worldwide added a total capacity of 38,941 MW. The largest project was the 1348 MW Karapınar YEKA-1 solar farm in Turkey. Asia, North America, and Europe were the main contributors to solar capacity, with China leading with 23% of the global additions.

Since the first successful oil well in 1859, the U.S. has drilled millions of wells for oil and gas. Drilling surged with demand, technology, and geopolitics, with notable periods like the post-WWII boom and the fracking-driven increase in natural gas wells. This progress has brought economic benefits and energy shifts, yet also raised environmental and social concerns.

Renew Boston Trust is a program launched by the City of Boston to improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings. By implementing energy conservation measures, such as lighting upgrades and weatherization, the program aims to reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions

Oil and gas activities contribute to significant air pollution, resulting in adverse health effects and economic costs. Emissions from drilling, production, and transportation release pollutants that are linked to asthma, heart attacks, and premature deaths, especially impacting vulnerable populations. Addressing these emissions is crucial for protecting public health, mitigating economic burdens, and implementing comprehensive policies to reduce air pollution from the oil and gas industry.

Fracking transformed the world energy landscape by unlocking untapped oil and gas resources. It led to increased domestic production, reduced import dependence, and stimulated economic growth. However, concerns have been raised about its environmental and health impacts, and its contribution to carbon emissions.