Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Friday, September 26, 2014

DOE Energy Calculator: Coal, Dynamite, Burritos, and Nuclear Candy

DOE Energy Calculator: Coal, Dynamite, Burritos, and Nuclear Candy
The Department of Energy just posted an interesting online tool for calculating the average amount of energy you consume each year in energy-equivalent terms of coal, dynamite, and burritos (yes, burritos). Turns out the average American burns up the annual energy equivalent of 15,370 pounds of coal (7.7 tons). But the DOE tool lacks a crucial alternative comparison: The energy in 7.7 tons of coal is equal to about 4 inches of uranium nuclear fuel pellets the width of your little finger. In other words, eight gummy-bear-size pieces of nuclear fuel would reliably power every hour of your life for a year – without climate impact emissions.


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