What is the type of energy used to power houses and schools?

Question

What is the type of energy used to power houses and schools?

Answer 1

Generally, two types.  Electricity is #1, of course.  But  millions of homes also use natural gas or heating oil for heat (and natural gas for cooking and heating water).

What's more important is the source of electricity. About half comes from burning coal.  The rest is primarily nuclear or hydroelectric plants.  A small amount is produced by othe rmeans, including oil, geothermal,  wind, and solar.

Answer 2

It is the mains grid, for sure.  That is powered primarily by burning fossil fuels.  In my view the amount of roof space these government institutions have should be put to good use.  If each school had all its appropriately aligned rooves covered with solar panels, the buildings would be virtually energy self sufficient.

However, here in Australia the schools are forced to work within too-small budgets and often have to out-source their buildings just to pay the bills.

When will state and federal governments get real about this issue and start mass manufacturing solar panels?

Answer 3

Fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Renewables like nuclear, solar, wind...

Different strokes for different folk!