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An energy method for computing the use of fossil fuel energy has been considered in the article. On the world market, the fuel price depends on supply and demand and involves no energy costs for fuel production. An energy analysis of economic activity was suggested by Charles Hall, an American scientist, who introduced a notion of Energy Returned on Energy Invested, as a ratio between returned and invested energy, into scientific discourse. No account has been taken of invested energy depreciation in this method. All losses are fully incorporated, when the ratio between beneficially used energy in all process flow chains from fuel deposit exploration to energy utilisation, and the considered amount of natural fuel primary energy is taken as the coefficient of beneficial primary energy use (CBPEU). When CBPEU is determined, allowance is made for all potential energy losses; the depreciation degree of energy, contained in the fuel, from its deposit to a consumer, is defined. When energy of renewable sources is utilised, a coefficient of renewable sources energy conversion, defined as the ratio between energy delivered by a power unit throughout the entire operation period, and invested energy taking into account CBPEU over the same period, will represent an objective criterion of power unit efficiency.

Using the example of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, the article examines the problems of rational use of energy resources in the North Caucasian Federal District, which, ranking first among the districts in terms of gasification, is the leader in overdue debts for natural gas and its losses in networks. The release of methane into the atmosphere enhances the greenhouse effect. In all the republics of the District, due to the absence of large industrial enterprises, the situation is the same - the population has become the main consumer of gas. Numerous cases of non-contractual and unaccounted gas consumption have been recorded there, energy-saving measures are insufficiently financed, the control and accounting system does not meet modern requirements, gas networks are worn out, which serves as a cover for theft. Technical problems became secondary. They will become primary when the gas supplier deals with any region as a separate consumer and nothing more. Everything else should become a problem for the region and should not concern the supplier.

The article discusses the possibility of using hydrogen as an ideal alternative fuel with a zero carbon footprint. It can be considered as such only if it is obtained from the decomposition of water using energy from renewable sources, since hydrogen will no longer belong to traditional types of fuel, turning into an energy accumulator obtained from a certain source, with all the advantages and disadvantages of such devices. The economic efficiency of the battery is estimated by the efficiency. For the industrial use of hydrogen as a fuel, it is necessary to solve such technical problems as the choice of primary energy sources for the decomposition of water, storage and transportation of the resulting gases, as well as to determine the energy feasibility of introducing certain technological schemes. To assess the carbon footprint, it is necessary to determine the primary energy efficiency, that is, to identify the sources of used energy in all links of the technological scheme from the development of project documentation to the disposal of used equipment.

The state of the environment is most affected by the emission of greenhouse gases, in particular, carbon dioxide, which is formed during the combustion of fossil fuels. The main part of the energy resources that are consumed in rural areas, in addition to technological purposes, is fuel used for heating residential buildings. The article examines the state of thermal protection of residential buildings (individually defined buildings). During their construction in every region of a large country, they adhered to the established traditions, which changed slightly with the advent of new materials. Residential buildings built over a century ago are in operation in Russia. Local materials were mainly used in the construction of the walls. For a long time, state structures were not interested in the state of residential buildings, since there was no need for this due to the lack of a centralized fuel supply to villages. Gasification of rural settlements requires a revision of the attitude towards thermal protection of residential buildings. To solve the problem, state support will be required for the insulation of some of their external enclosing structures.