The global cost of adapting to unchecked climate change
could exceed $200 billion per year, according to one report,
while another warns of hundreds of billions of dollars in
damages to the United States. On top of that, the nation could
be dragged into new wars as security threats increase.
Public policies such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards and building codes are responsible for at least 20% of the improvement in the US's energy intensity--energy use per unit of GDP. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
Electricity generation accounts for about 40% of total U.S. energy consumption. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
The United States makes up 5% of the world's population and accounts for 25% of total energy use.
In 2007, the average monthly residential electricity consumption was 936 kWh. (Source: EIA)
Crude oil, taxes, refining, distribution and marking are the four main components that make up the retail price of a gallon of gasoline. (Source: EIA)
