# Power Consumption Facts For the United States and the Environment

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/power-consumption-insights-from-recent-studies/
- Published: 2011-09-01T14:11:38-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Power Consumption in the USA

I just helped build an infographic about power consumption and how we consume electricity
around the house. Moreover, how we can reduce the amount we use.  So tell me what
you think about this chart that was provided to me by a reader.  Let’s talk this
story out for a change!

### **Major uses of power consumption**

In 1999, a study by Mark. P. Mills ^([[33]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-Tester_2005-32))
of the Green Earth Society reported that computers power consumption is 13% of the
entire US supply. Numerous researchers questioned Mills’ methodology. However, it
was later demonstrated that he was off by an order of magnitude. For example, [Lawrence Berkeley Labs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Berkeley_National_Laboratory)
concluded that the figure was nearer three percent of US electricity use.

Although the Mills study was inaccurate,^([[34]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-33))
^([[35]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-34))
^([[36]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-35))
it helped drive the debate to the national level. Therefore, in 2006 the US Senate
started a study of the energy consumption of [Server farms](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Server_farm).(
Source: Wikipedia)

### Power Consumption Recorded

Those servers of the United [States](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/08/eleven-states-declaring-electric-cars-people-are-placing-orders-to-build-their-own-electric-vehicles-so-forget-wsj-com/)
have and continue to get most of its electrical production from conventional thermal
power plants. Most of these are coal. However, the 1990s and 2000s have seen a disproportionate
increase in [natural gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas); as well as
other kinds of [gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas) powered plants.

From 1992 to 2005 some 270,000 MWe (Megawatt electric) of new gas-fired plant were
built. However, only 14,000 MWe of new [nuclear and coal-fired capacity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/global-nuclear-generation-capacity-falls/)
came on line. It was mostly coal that with 2,315 MWe of it also being nuclear.^(
[[26]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-25)) 
[Nuclear](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_States) and 
[coal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_power_in_the_United_States) are considerably
more capital intensive when compared to gas. Therefore, the great [shift to gas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/12/political-climate-shifting-against-the-oil-and-gas-industry/)
plant construction is often attributed to deregulation. As well as other political
and economic factors.

### Wind

As of January 2008 the [American Wind Energy Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Wind_Energy_Association)
estimated that [U.S. wind power ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_the_United_States)
consumption and capacity as 16,818 MW, sufficient to power 4.5 million homes.

### Largest Wind Facility

The largest wind facility in the U.S. and the world is in Roscoe Texas, costing 
more than $1 billion and providing 781.5 MW of power (enough for 230,000 homes throughout
Texas, which has more wind power generation capacity than any other state and all
but four countries.).^([  ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_the_United_States#cite_note-27))
^()

Several solar thermal power generating facilities like the new 64 MW Nevada Solar
One and the SEGS group of plants in the Mojave Desert with a total generating capacity
of 354 MW, making the system the largest solar plant of any kind in the world.^()

In 2007, summer demand for electricity was 783 GW and 640 GW for [winter](https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/12/4-tips-to-improve-electric-vehicle-battery-range-this-winter-from-usdoe/).
By 2017, [North American Electric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/05/new-york-firm-becomes-north-american-distribution-manager-electric-vehicle/)
Reliability Corporation (NERC) projects summer consumption to be 925GW for summer
and 756 GW for winter.

![U S Power consumption infographic showing national energy use major energy sources
residential commercial industrial and transportation demand plus solar wind and 
energy efficiency solutions for reducing emissions](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.
com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/524038F9-327F-4A43-80F5-E48DF1D3579C-211x400.png?
resize=211%2C400&quality=50&ssl=1 "524038F9-327F-4A43-80F5-E48DF1D3579C - The Green
Living Guy")

### Sources

U.S. [Energy Information Administration](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/04/wte-waste-to-energy-transforming-trash-to-power/)(
EIA) — Electricity Data
[Current U.S. electricity statistics covering generation](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/minesto-takes-steps-towards-worlds-first-ocean-current-electricity-generation/),
consumption, power plants, prices, fuels and customers. [https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data.php](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data.php)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — [Electric Power Sector Emissions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/11/eia-stated-reduced-electric-demand-halved-power-sector-carbon-emissions/)

Information on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. electricity generation, including
coal, [natural gas and renewable energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/whitefence-empowers-consumers-for-green-energy-choices/).
The EPA reports that the electric power sector accounted for about one-quarter of
U.S. [greenhouse gas emissions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/01/greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-achievements-and-benefits/)
in 2022. [https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/electric-power-sector-emissions](https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/electric-power-sector-emissions)

U.S. [Department of Energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/04/u-s-secretary-of-energy-rick-perry-announces-105-million-in-new-funding-to-advance-solar-technologies/)—
Energy Efficiency
Resources on [reducing energy consumption](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/03/helping-the-environment-in-2018-what-can-you-truly-do-as-an-individual/)
in homes and businesses through efficiency, better equipment and cleaner energy 
technologies.[https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-efficiency](https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-efficiency)

 

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
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Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
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