Articles

Principle 1: Energy cannot be created, destroyed or recycled.

In 1865, the German physicist Rudolf Clausius investigated energy use by steam engines. The steam engine was a key driving force behind the Industrial...

Principle 2: Life depends on the Sun

The Sun underpins life on Earth in innumerable ways. The Sun powers photosynthesis, the conversion of light energy to chemical energy and its subsequent...

Principle 3: Earth's energy balance determines climate

The climate of Earth is determined by the balance between energy entering and leaving the atmosphere.  The temperature of the Earth is a simple function...

Principle 4: Natural selection operates on energy strategies

Every living organisms must use energy for six purposes; maintenance, growth, storage, reproduction, protection, and obtaining more energy. The natural world is a dazzling array...

Principle 5: Energy transitions produce cultural transitions

Fire transformed human life by providing light, warmth, cooking, healing and ultimately the ability to smelt and forge metals, and to bake bricks, ceramics, and...

Principle 6: Energy drives economic growth.

Rapid economic growth is one of the defining characteristics of modern society.It is a principal goal of nearly every national government in the world. Gross...

Principle 7: Struggle for control of energy causes violent conflict

Since the time when humans first harnessed energy flows in nature, they have fought bitterly for control of those regions of the Earth that grant...

Principle 8: Energy systems cause environmental degradation

The extraction, processing and use of energy are major sources of environmental stress at global, regional, and local levels. Atmospheric releases from fossil fuel energy systems...

Principle 9: Energy quality varies among sources

Although all forms of energy can be measured by their heat content, the usefulness of a heat unit of energy varies greatly among energy types....

Principle 10: Net energy is an ultimate constraint

In accordance with the second law of thermodynamics, the continuous flow of oil coal, and other fuels used to run society is converted into low...