Energy is a resource that can be utilized in an infinite number of ways. It can be utilized for heating and cooling, powering devices, or even transportation.
Humans use energy from less desirable forms (like grass, wood and coal) to more desirable ones (like electricity). This enables us to transport food and goods around the world.
Energy Sources
Energy is vital to human activities, from lighting and heating homes, to cooking food, fueling cars and trucks, and providing electricity for our devices. Its consumption has been growing steadily for decades, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasting global energy demand will double by 2040.
Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are the primary energy sources used globally. While essential for petrochemical production and transporting goods by land, sea or air, their extraction has significant environmental consequences.
Fossil fuels contribute to global warming by releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned. Renewable energy, on the other hand, produces fewer emissions and is considered essential in combatting climate change.
Solar and wind energy are both examples of renewable energies. Photovoltaic cells and turbines can convert sunlight directly into electric power through photovoltaic cells, or they may be converted to gases which then ignite in internal combustion engine generators or gas turbines.
Hydroelectricity is a form of renewable energy that utilizes flowing water to spin a turbine and produce electricity. Tidal power, which taps into ocean waves for power production, is another emerging field within renewable energy development.
Biomass is another renewable source of energy, such as wood-derived fuel and biomass from municipal solid waste, landfill gas, sludge and agricultural by-products. It can also be converted into liquid fuels like ethanol.
Energy sources such as fossil and renewable sources play a significant role in the United States’ energy mix, each contributing its own share to overall supply. Petroleum is the main energy source for transportation while natural gas serves primarily as the primary fuel for electricity generation.
Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy created by the movement of charged particles known as electrons. These charged atoms form the basis for all matter and motion, with electricity creating heat, magnetism, and light in our world.
Gaining an understanding of electricity, its sources, and how it functions allows you to make more informed decisions about how and when you use it. Furthermore, this knowledge can lay the groundwork for improving your home’s energy efficiency.
In the United States, electricity is primarily utilized by three sectors: residential, commercial and public services, and industry. Customers within this latter group use electricity at their homes primarily for lighting, heating/cooling systems and appliances.
The commercial sector encompasses government buildings, service-provider facilities and equipment, as well as other businesses. This sector accounts for roughly one-third of U.S. electricity consumption.
This sector utilizes electricity to run items such as refrigeration, computers and office equipment (combined), space heating, lighting and ventilation. Other significant uses include motors (machine drive) and electro-chemical processes.
Industrial consumers utilize electricity to run machines that manufacture goods like aluminum metal, iron and steel, chemicals, cement, and paper. Additionally, these industries require electricity for various other uses like running furnaces and boilers as well as other equipment.
Transportation is a major consumer of electricity, using it for fueling cars, vans, trucks, buses, subways and electric trains. Additionally, this sector draws energy from utility-scale power plants that use renewable sources like solar photovoltaic systems, wind energy or geothermal heat pumps.
Heating and Cooling
Heating and cooling together account for the majority of household energy use, making energy efficiency measures an invaluable way to reduce costs. That is why investing in the correct system for your home is so important; get the most out of it by investing today!
People typically turn on their heating or air conditioning systems when temperatures drop, as it’s more cost-effective to heat a home than cool it. However, there are ways you can cut back on energy expenses and save on your bill.
First, determine if your appliances are using more electricity than necessary. If they’re older, consider replacing them with newer, more energy-efficient models.
When shopping for heating and cooling equipment, look for an EPA-approved efficiency rating. The higher the AFUE (Annual Fuel Use Efficiency) number, the more energy-efficient your system will run.
Many modern models feature Greenspeed Intelligence, which automatically adjusts variable-speed operation to meet your home’s needs as they change. This can provide a more comfortable home without the need to run the system as hard and even save you money on utility bills!
Other free and low-cost methods exist that can help reduce your energy expenses. Insulating your home, installing windows that let heat escape, and using smart thermostats provide real-time information about energy consumption that you can manage from anywhere.
Transportation
Transportation of people and goods accounts for an important component of world energy consumption. Common modes include vehicles (cars, trucks and motorcycles), trains, airplanes, ships and pipelines; all consuming significant amounts of energy in the process.
Social science defines transportation as the process or systems by which socially meaningful objects are moved from one location to another through energy-consuming mechanisms. It includes people and animals moving themselves using self-locomotion mechanisms as well as messages composed of meaningful symbols sent via various communication technologies like radio waves.
Transportation has a vast array of implications, yet is often misunderstood. From mobility to communication, the concept can be blurred into something entirely different. Thus, transportation plays an integral role in society and economies alike – leading to numerous problems related to its organization and economic viability.
Two fundamental principles of transportation economics dictate that (i) any system’s design must take into account a wide variety of characteristics, not only those related to equipment but also traffic distribution, costs and performance characteristics at different points in operation. Therefore, good designs cannot be achieved simply by comparing different aspects separately.
(ii) Transport economics also involves the underlying concern of management to protect property and generate regular returns on large investments. This is evident in penalties for violation of operating rules as well as special care taken by various legal authorities invested in ship captains, airplane pilots, and railroad conductors.
Fourth, transportation economics is often driven by public concern for both cost and quality of transport services – often leading to government subsidization of these enterprises. This stems from the reality that nonstorable services cannot be suspended permanently or even for an extended period without severe and damaging repercussions for society as a whole.
Water
Water is one of the most essential molecules on earth and an integral part of life. People depend on it for everything from drinking to washing clothes to bathing. Furthermore, it provides energy through industrial processes and transporting goods.
Water molecules consist of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. They are held together chemically via hydrogen bonds, creating weak links known as hydrogen bonds. Hydrogen atoms have a positive charge while oxygen atoms have a negative one; the attraction between them keeps the molecule together.
Most hydrogen atoms contain a nucleus, which is an interior space that houses protons and neutrons. There are two isotopic forms of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium. Deuterium contains one proton and neutron in its nucleus while tritium contains eight protons plus four neutrons.
Water molecules exist as both liquids at room temperature and solids when cold. As such, it makes an excellent solvent, capable of dissolving other compounds.
Some substances react with water in potentially hazardous ways, such as producing hazardous gases or heat. Examples include sulfuric acid, sulfate or nitrate which may release toxic fumes when mixed with water; sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and chlorine which also react with water to release hazardous by-products.
Companies that rely on nonrenewable energy sources to generate electricity, such as coal, oil or natural gas, require large amounts of freshwater. By contrast, electricity produced from renewable resources like wind and solar power requires much less water than fossil-fuel-based electricity does.