Abstract
If one goes back to the history of world energy requirements with regard to
the consumption and sources of energy, the last century was largely dependent on
various forms of fossil fuels. These fossil fuel sources of energy have served humanity
for a prolonged era and powered the Industrial Revolution in the 17th to 18th century.
However, like other natural resources, the reserves of fossil fuels are also depleting fast
and are anticipated to finish completely in the coming years. Currently, the world is
witnessing the greatest ever energy crisis. In the last few years, major events, especially
the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, post-pandemic economic rebound, the
recent Russia-Ukraine war and extreme weather conditions occurring due to
greenhouse gas emissions and global warming have led to a severe energy crunch in
terms of fossil fuels. This has impacted the lives of the general population to a greater
extent. In any such crisis, not only does the general population get directly affected, but
it also plays a key role in energy conservation if they understand the nuances of the
problem. Hence, an attempt has been made to find out the understanding of the general
population, both males and females, about various terms related to energy and its
sources, and problems resulting from this global energy crisis and their solutions.
Responses were analyzed, conclusions were drawn and suggestions were provided to
deal with the problem in an orderly manner.