The way energy is used has changed as societies have developed, with a rapid increase in available sources to perform any work over the last few centuries. In prehistory, during the time of hunters and gatherers, the energy (or exergy) expenditure required to sustain life itself was too costly for the body to manage. Nevertheless, the exergy use was solely for survival, as the necessity of external energy production was not an issue, except for heat to maintain thermal comfort and to cook. Later, farms, improved tools, and the use of animals as sources of power contributed to the history of society as we know it, with an increase in energy expenditure to maintain life itself. Nevertheless, this was accompanied by higher demands as the necessity of human muscle work decreased over time. Just recently, fossil fuels played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, leading to an exponential increase in energy intensity and energy use, not solely for survival but also to achieve a better quality of life, access to medical care, improved health, increased longevity, and altered consumption patterns. However, it came with a cost. The non-renewable energy use on such a scale is causing changes in environmental equilibrium conditions with unknown consequences. One is global warming, which refers to the increase in the Earth’s temperature. Certain gases released into the atmosphere have a Global Warming Potential (GWP). This came about as the use of energy-dense fuels, which have a high capacity to perform work relative to their weight or volume, expanded exponentially. Although the reasons behind the increase in the technical capability of civilization during that period are not the focus of this study, one of the causes is the development of prime movers with ever-expanding capacity. The challenge now is to continue benefiting from this improved technical capability and the abundance of available energy without causing environmental changes that are essential for sustaining life and civilization. A possible tool to analyze energy on a societal scale is to combine the fundamental Laws of Thermodynamics with the concept of Exergy.