9781422275184

Chapter 1

WHAT DO RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKERS DO? WHAT IS ENERGY?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) defines energy as the “ability to do work.” What the EIA is really saying is that energy is the power to do something. You have energy in your body that allows you to do your chores (I bet you hate it when you have to use that kind of energy!), score the game-winning goal during a soccer game, or walk to your local grocery store. Energy is also used to heat our houses, fuel our cars, and power our spaceships, smartphones,

and video games, among many other uses. Energy comes in different forms, including:

• thermal (heat) • radiant (light) • kinetic (motion) • electrical • auditory (sound)

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