ABSTRACT
Energy is basically a physical variable-measured variously as calories, kilowatt-hours, horsepower, British Thermal Units, joules, and so forth. But energy is also a social variable, because it permeates and conditions almost all facets of our lives. Driving a car, buying a hamburger, turning on your computer, or going to a movie could all be described in terms of the amount of energy it took to make it possible for you to do those things. A kilowatt-hour of electricity, for instance, can light your 100-watt lamp for 10 hours, smelt enough aluminum for your six-pack of soda or beer, or heat enough water for your shower for a few minutes (Fickett et al., 1990: 65). All of social life, from the broad and profound things to the minutiae of everyday life, can be described in terms of energy.
