of energy this way (Table 1-6). Considering only electricity, natural gas, and gasoline, we consumed about 20 quadrillion Btu's, or not quite 350 million per household. Energy used only in the house itself is estimated at one-fifth of all U.S. energy, which in 1973 was about 76 quadrillion Btu's. Another 10 percent of U.S. energy (7.3 quadrillion Btu's) is consumed by the gasoline in cars. Part of the rest—but only a part—goes to make and transport goods for consumers or to serve them. A good deal of what industry makes, and wholesalers and retailers sell goes to federal, state and local governments for administration, for space exploration, and for military materiel (Table 1-7).

Succeeding chapters describe how American households use their millions of Btu's, and the wide variations that show up in use and cost. They bring history up to date.

This chapter explores one more question briefly: Has the energy revolution made housekeeping easier and less time consuming? Certainly home life is freer of the hard physical work and discomforts our parents and