Library InfoGraphic
Library of the European Parliament
08/11/2012
Visualising energy in everyday items
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): a unit of energy equal to 1 000 Watts of power for the duration of 1 hour. 1 kWh is
equivalent to 860 kilocalories or 3.6 megajoules. All energy can be measured in kWh.
What can you produce with 1 kWh?
4 batteries
250 batteries
0.11 litres of petrol
7 bread rolls
6 bread rolls
100 grams of fat
H2O
700 litres of tap water
To deliver 1 kWh you need...
1 bottle of drinking water
(0.5 litres)
PAPER
Coal
125 grams of coal
(anthracite)
130 grams of paper
2 sausages
150 grams of steel
8 apples
11 apples
225 grams of wood
Polycarbonate plastic
for 2 CDs
1 bag of fries
2 bags of fries
4 hours of cycling
Aluminium for 1
beverage can
240 grams of
rapeseed oil
100 grams of
rapeseed oil
For more information on these figures and their sources, see page 2.
6 sausages
1 car battery
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Library InfoGraphic
Visualising energy in everyday items
Notes
The amount of energy needed for the production, delivery and disposal of a good can vary greatly
depending on production process, use of recycled materials, transport distances, as well as climate and
soil in the case of food products. The numbers given are typical values from published information
sources. The energy provided by an energy source may vary depending on its characteristics. Only part
of the energy contained in an energy source can be converted to electricity or mechanical power, the
rest is given off as heat.
What can you produce with 1 kWh?
To deliver 1 kWh you need...
700 litres of tap water: energy is 4 (250) batteries (alkali, size AA): the energy delivered by a battery is only a
used for cleaning and distributing fraction of the energy needed for its production. A typical AA alkali battery
the water. Most of the water is delivers 4 watt-hours (2.7 Ah at 1.5 V).
used for washing, bathing,
industry and agriculture.
0.11 litres of petrol: oil products
have a very high energy density,
making them an excellent onboard energy source for moving
vehicles such as cars.
1 bottle of drinking water (0.5
litre): includes the energy for the
production of the bottle, filling,
labelling
and
sealing,
transportation and cooling.
7 (6) rolls of bread (60 g each): the energy needed to produce ready-to-eat
bread includes farm inputs, processing, preparation, baking and transportation
to the retailer. If energy from sunshine is not taken into account, the energy
delivered exceeds the energy needed for production.
100 grams of fat: body fat has a
very high energy density, making
it an excellent "portable" energy
source for humans and animals.
130 grams of paper: includes
only the energy for the production
of the paper, but not printing,
distribution and journalism.
2 (6) sausages (50 g each): the total energy required for the production of
meat is many times higher than its energy content.
125 grams of coal (anthracite):
anthracite coal contains about 3.5
times more energy (relative to its
weight) than brown coal (lignite).
150 grams of steel: includes only
the energy needed for the
production of the steel, not the
energy needed to transform it into
products.
8 (11) apples: the energy needed to produce ready-to-eat apples includes
farm inputs, processing, storage, and transportation to the retailer. Energy
input from sunshine is not included.
225 grams of wood: typical
energy content of dry wood. Hard
wood (oak, beech) contains more
energy than the same volume of
soft wood (spruce, pine).
Polycarbonate plastic for 2
CDs: includes only the energy
needed to produce the plastic, but
not the energy for the production
and distribution of the CD.
1 (2) bags of fries: the energy required to produce a medium-size bag of
fries (135g) includes farm inputs, processing, storage and transport to the
retailer, as well as preparation and cooking in households.
4 hours of cycling: Tour de
France cyclists produce around
250 W of continuous power, with
peaks up to 500 W for steep
climbs.
Aluminium for 1 beverage can:
includes only the energy for
producing aluminium (16g) from
bauxite, but not the production
and distribution of the can and its
contents.
240 (100) grams of rapeseed oil: rapeseed oil yields more energy than is
needed for its production, which also makes it suitable for the production of
biofuel (biodiesel).
1 car battery (12V, 80 Ah): a fully
charged conventional lead-acid
battery can deliver about 1kWh of
electricity to power the starter,
lights and on-board electronics of
automobiles.
Sources
Item
700 litres of tap water
1 bottle of drinking water (0.5 litres)
130 grams of paper
150 grams of steel
Polycarbonate plastic for 2 CDs
Aluminium for 1 beverage can
4 (250) batteries (alkali, size AA)
7 (6) bread rolls (60 g each)
2 (6) sausages (50 g each)
8 (11) apples
1 (2) bags of fries
240 (100) grams of rapeseed oil
0.11 litres of petrol
100 grams of fat
125 grams of coal (anthracite)
225 grams of wood
4 hours of cycling
1 car battery (12V, 80 Ah)
Data source
Water UK Sustainability Report
Energy implications of bottled water
Inventory of Carbon and Energy 1.6
Inventory of Carbon and Energy 1.6
Inventory of Carbon and Energy 1.6
Inventory of Carbon and Energy 1.6
Materials and the environment
Food and life cycle energy inputs, USDA Nutrient Database
Food and life cycle energy inputs, USDA Nutrient Database
Food and life cycle energy inputs, USDA Nutrient Database
Food and life cycle energy inputs, USDA Nutrient Database
Food and life cycle energy inputs, Canola Info
Energy and climate change
USDA Nutrient Database
Energy and climate change
Energy and climate change
Mapawatt
Bosch
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