What does the term embodied energy refer to?

Embodied energy refers to the total amount of energy that is required to produce a product, encompassing the energy consumed at every stage of its life cycle. This includes the extraction of raw materials, processing and manufacturing, transportation, and any other processes leading up to the product being ready for use.

Understanding embodied energy is crucial in design and technology as it helps evaluate the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle. By focusing on embodied energy, designers can make more informed decisions to reduce resource consumption, improve sustainability, and minimize the carbon footprint of products.

The other options address specific aspects related to energy use or waste, but they don't capture the comprehensive nature of embodied energy as it relates to the full lifecycle of a product's creation.