Sankey diagrams, energy quality

In E2, 130806 Tuesday PM, the groups looked at a set of Sankey diagrams representing sources of energy, ways to "use" the energy and how much of is put to efficient use and how much is wasted as a flow chart. Here's an example, similar to what my group looked at:

 

 

In this clip, Allie comments that she wants to see the proportion of energy from the different sources (to the very left) that are useful.

 

 

 

In the Swedish physics curriculum, both in grade 7-9 (compulsory school) and grade 10 for science majors, this is explicitly taught by use of the concept of "energy quality", defined as the percentage of the energy of a particular energy form that can be transforemd into mechanical energy through work. The concept relates to efficiency in general.

 

Kids are given tables like this with energy quality by energy form:

 

Mechanical energy 1,00

Electical energy 1,00

Nuclear energy 1,00

Radiation energy 0,95

Chemical energy  0,90

Thermal energy 300°C 0,52

Thermal energy, 80°C 0,23

Thermal energy, 20°C 0,07

Termisk energi, 0°C 0,00

 

The top ones are most efficient. Then again, the message is also that you should not use the high energy quality types if you can make do with and have access to others. Heating a house with electrical radiators is like cutting bread with a laser! Obviously, there is also the fossil vs. reusable dimension to it.

 

Is energy quality or anything similar typically introduced in schools in the US?