Energy Usage
Annual San Diego County Energy Consumption 1:
Total Energy Consumption is about 100,000 Gigawatt-hours (GWh)
| Consumption | Amount | Units | Amount | Units 2 | Percent |
| Electricity | 18,648 |
Gigawatt-hours | 18,648 |
GWh |
18.8% |
| Natural Gas | 581 |
Million Therms | 17,027 |
GWh |
17.2% |
| Petroleum Fuels | 1.88 |
Billion Gallons | 63,363 |
GWh |
64.0% |
We are addicted to Petroleum Fuels for good reasons. They have high energy density and being liquid, and they are relatively easy to transport, store, and handle.
Notes:
- One problem in defining the energy use situation is that separate energy components are measured in non-comparable units. Converting to common energy units (in this case Gigawatt-hours or GWh) allows us to compare the usage quantitatively. Energy contents are defined in reference 2.
- These numbers are accurate to the order of magnitude. Exact numbers are impossible (they cannot really be measured and they change), but they are not necessary for decision making. Their accuracy is as good as the sources considered most credible.
- From reference 1 electricity usage is from 2007; natural gas usage is described as "current"; petroleum fuels is not referenced as to time-frame but implication is current usage. These change year to year but only slightly.