Wondering where we got our numbers from? Check out this table!
| Quantity | Value | Approximate Range | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUN AND EARTH | |||
| Sun’s surface (effective) temperature [note]NASA’s National Space Science Data Center. Sun Fact Sheet (online). http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/sunfact.html [13 May 2010].[/note] | 5778 | K | |
| Emissivity of the Sun [note]Çengel, Yunus A. Steady Heat Conduction. In: Heat Transfer a Practical Approach (2). New York: McGraw Hill Professional, 2003, p. 173.[/note] | 1 | ||
| Mean Surface Temperature of Earth [note]NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. GISS (Goddard Institute for Space Studies) Surface Temperature Analysis (online). http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/ [13 May 2010].[/note] | 287.5 | ± 0.1 annual variation | K |
| Emissivity of Earth [note]Çengel, Yunus A. Steady Heat Conduction. In: Heat Transfer a Practical Approach (2). New York: McGraw Hill Professional, 2003, p. 173.[/note] | 0.95 | ||
| Solar Constant(S) [note]ACRIM. Composite TSI Time Series (online). http://acrim.com/TSI%20Monitoring.htm [13 May 2010]. [/note] | 1366 | ± 1 (fluctuation) | W/m2 |
| Mean Solar Flux Averaged Over Earth’s Surface (top of atmosphere) [note]S/4[/note] | 341.5 | W/m2 | |
| Average albedo (A) of the Earth [note]Goode, P. R., J. Qiu, V. Yurchyshyn, J. Hickey, M.‐C. Chu, E. Kolbe, C. T. Brown, and S. E. Koonin (2001), Earthshine observations of the Earth’s reflectance, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28(9), 1671–1674. http://www.agu.org/journals/ABS/2001/2000GL012580.shtml[/note] | 0.296 | ± 0.002 (measurement uncertainty) | |
| Mean Solar Flux Averaged Over Earth’s Surface (bottom of atmosphere) [note]S(1-A)/4[/note] | 240 | W/m2 | |
| Annual Human Energy Consumption on Earth (2008)[note]Wikipedia Foundation Inc. World Energy Resources and Consumption (Online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption [28 June2010][/note] | 4 x 1020 | J | |
| Mean Human Power Consumption on Earth (2008)[note]Wikipedia Foundation Inc. World Energy Resources and Consumption (Online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_resources_and_consumption [28 June2010][/note] | 1.5 x 1013 | W | |
| HEAT/ENERGY | |||
| Kerosene Energy Content [note]Michigan State University. Approximate Heating Value of Common Fuels (Online). http://www.hrt.msu.edu/Energy/pdf/Heating%20Value%20of%20Common%20Fuels.pdf [12 May 2010][/note] | 45 | MJ/kg | |
| Energy Content of Methane (CH4) [note]Andrews, J. and Jelley, N. Energy Science – Principles, Technologies and Impacts. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, Chapter 7.[/note] | 55 | MJ/kg | |
| Energy Content of Long-Chain Hydrocarbons (CH2)n [note]Andrews, J. and Jelley, N. Energy Science – Principles, Technologies and Impacts. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, Chapter 7.[/note] | 41 | ± 4 | MJ/kg |
| Energy Content of Carbohydrates (CH2O)n [note]Andrews, J. and Jelley, N. Energy Science – Principles, Technologies and Impacts. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007, Chapter 7.[/note] | 16 | MJ/kg | |
| Average Greenhouse Gas Production of Electricity Generated in BC [note]BC Hydro GHG Emissions: http://www.bchydro.com/about/sustainability/climate_action/greenhouse_gases.html#emission [26 September 2012][/note] | 28 | t C02e/GWh | |
| 7.8 | g CO2/MJ | ||
| Average Greenhouse Gas Production of Electricity Generated in Canada [note]BC Hydro GHG Emissions: http://www.bchydro.com/about/sustainability/climate_action/greenhouse_gases.html#emission [26 September 2012][/note] | 230 | t C02e/GWh | |
| 64 | g CO2/MJ | ||
| C02 Production Per Capita in Canada [note]International Energy Agency. CO2 Emissions From Fuel Combustion (Online). http://www.iea.org/co2highlights/CO2highlights.pdf [12 May 2010][/note] | 17.4 | tonnes | |
| C02e Production Per Capita in Canada (2005) [note]Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Environment — Greenhouse Gases (online). http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=64 [13 May 2010]. [/note] | 23 | tonnes | |
| Daily Human Energy Consumption [note]Health Canada. Canada Food Guide (online). http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/basics-base/1_1_1-eng.php [4 May 2009].[/note] | 2000 | ± 500 | Calories |
| 1 food calorie = 1 Cal = 1 000 cal = 1 kcal | 4.2 | kJ | |
| TRANSPORTATION: | |||
| Energy Content of Diesel Oil [note]Diesel fuel(online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel [26 September 2012].[/note] | 38 | ±2 | MJ/L |
| Diesel Energy Efficiency [note]Soimar M. Diesel Progress North American Edition. The Challenge Of CVTs In Current Heavy-Duty Powertrains (online). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FZX/is_4_66/ai_62371160/ [21 August 2009].[/note] | 37% | ballpark | |
| Car Fuel Consumption [note]Natural Resources Canada. Fuel Concumption Guide (Online). http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/tools/fuel-consumption-guide/fuel-consumption-guide.cfm [12 May 2010].[/note] | 0.1 | varies by at least a factor 2 | L/km |
| Energy Content of Gasoline [note]Wikipedia Foundation Inc. Gasoline (Online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline [25 August 2009].[/note] | 32 | MJ/L | |
| Gasoline Engine Efficiency [note]MacKay DJC. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air (Online). UIT Cambridge. p.262. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/ps/253.326.pdf [25 August 2009].[/note] | 25% | ballpark | |
| Density of gasoline [note]Wikipedia Foundation Inc. Gasoline (Online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline [25 August 2009].[/note] | 740 | ±30 | kg/m3 |
| GHG Production Due to Gasoline [note](density/1000) times ratio of molecular masses (44/14)[/note] | 2.3 | kg CO2/L | |
| Energy Content of Jet Fuel[note]Wikipedia Foundation Inc. Gasoline (Online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline#Energy_content_.28High_and_Low_heating_value.29 [20 July 2010].[/note] | 35 | ±2 | MJ/L |
| Drag Coefficient – Typical Family Car [note]MacKay DJC. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air (Online). UIT Cambridge. p.257. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/ps/253.326.pdf [25 August 2009].[/note] | 0.3 | ballpark | |
| Drag Coefficient – Bicycle [note]MacKay DJC. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air (Online). UIT Cambridge. p.257. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/ps/253.326.pdf [25 August 2009].[/note] | 1 | ballpark | |
| Rolling Resistance – Ordinary Car Tire [note]A Discovery Company. How Tires Work (online). http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire4.htm [25 August 2009].[/note] | 0.015 | ballpark | |
| Rolling Resistance – Truck Tire [note]A Discovery Company. How Tires Work (online). http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire4.htm [25 August 2009].[/note] | 0.01 | ballpark | |
| Rolling Resistance – Bike Tire [note]Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Rolling Resistance (Online).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_resistance [12 May 2010].[/note] | 0.005 | ballpark | |
| Rolling Resistance – Train Wheel [note]A Discovery Company. How Tires Work (online). http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tire4.htm [25 August 2009].[/note] | 0.001 | ballpark | |
| Electric Car Charging/Discharging Efficiency [note]Electric battery and motor efficiencies: http://www.stanford.edu/group/greendorm/participate/cee124/TeslaReading.pdf [4 November 2009][/note] | 85% | ballpark | |
| Electric Motor Efficiency [note]Electric battery and motor efficiencies: http://www.stanford.edu/group/greendorm/participate/cee124/TeslaReading.pdf [4 November 2009][/note] | 85% | ballpark | |
| Energy Consumption for Electric Cars [note]MacKay DJC. Sustainable Energy – Without the Hot Air (online). UIT Cambridge. p. 29-31. http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/ps/1.112.pdf [21 August 2009].[/note] | 0.54 | ballpark | MJ/km |
