The earliest forms of domestic energy known to humans was fire, small groups used

heat as a form of chemical energy. The ability to create a controlled fire changed
the basic needs for everyday life. This allowed humans to inhabit colder climates,
food to be cooked and the points of sticks to be hardened. Fire did not provide
power to do mechanical work which had to derive from either human power or tamed
domestic animals. Animals were used to turn grindstones, carry burdens and not to
forget, transport. Only certain regions and tribes did people start to learn to
extract wind, with the development of elementary sails.
As groups grew into civilizations and trade slowly expands around the world, the
demand for energy increased. Wind and water were the main sources of mechanical
energy. Windmills and water wheels converts the kinetic energy from the motion of
wind and water to turn the grindstone, this allowed more efficient production of
food. This also removed the need of domesticated animals as wind and hydro energy
were more reliable and consistent.

Technological advances and larger civilizations required higher demands of energy.

This was supplied by coal which led into the industrial revolution. Even though
wood provided a sufficient amount of energy, coal became the main fuel because it
was more abundant, easier to extract and produced a higher and more durable amount
of energy than wood. Towards the end of the industrial revolution, a new form of
energy was discovered, electrical energy.

After Hans Christian Oersted demonstration of the relationship between electricity

and magnetism in 1820, Michael Faraday described and defined electromagnetic
induction in 1831. This discovery allowed electricity to be generated from
mechanical movement rather than chemical reactions. Electricity soon became the
dominate form of energy in industries and manufacturing. Filament lamps brought
electricity into households and later became the dominant energy source in homes.
Electricity was to be the most efficient and convenient form of energy which is
still heavily depended on today.

- Discovery of fire allowed food to be cooked and sticks to be sharpened. It

also increased our survival chances in colder climates.

- Discovery of wind and solar energy allowed more efficient food productions
and allowed developments of boats to expand trading reaches.

- Discovery of coal allowed a more efficient way of producing larger amounts of

energy to carry out various productions. Eg, the higher energy content of coal
enabled the production of steel.

- Discovery of electricity allowed energy to be harnessed from a coal-powered

dynamo which is then transported to homes throughout a city. This provided greater
activity at night, creation of street lights making it safer at night, etc.