Energy

We all use it. In fact, we use it every day. It powers our machines, heats our buildings, and lights our homes. Without it, transportation in our modern world would be nearly impossible. What is it? You probably already guessed that it is energy. Energy powers our lives. Energy is the ability to do work, and we use it to produce everything we have.

Finding enough energy to meet the demands of an energy hungry world is one of the biggest challenges facing us today.

People, plants, and animals have something in common. All need energy to survive. Where does energy come from? Energy comes from many sources. Plants, for example, collect light energy from the Sun and make their own food. Animals get energy from the food they eat. Animals convert the energy stored in food into energy they can use.

Of course, we get energy from food, too. Food keeps our bodies moving, but we also use energy in other ways. We convert some forms of energy into fuels to make our lives easier and more comfortable. Some of these fuels are biofuels. Biofuels are mostly plant-based fuels. Biofuels may one day replace petroleum products, like gasoline, as the main source of fuel for cars and trucks.