Energy Literacy: understanding and communicating energy issues. Gavin D. J. Harper, B.R.A.S.S. Cardiff University
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As the world heads towards peak oil, and the UKs ageing nuclear power stations come to the end of their lives, important questions arise about where we will be getting energy from in the near future. There is the threat of climate-wrecking sources of energy such as tar sands or coal, sources such as biofuels that can take food out of people’s mouths or destroy entire ecosystems, and other questionable options such as nuclear energy or hydrogen fuel. At the same time there is the promise of fulfilling energy needs through energy efficiency, reduced consumption of material goods and renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and tidal power. Decisions about our energy future are made by people all the time, in choosing how much energy to use, where to purchase energy from, and what kind of energy to support and promote in debates.
