Chapter 17 Energy: Some Basics

Energy Basics Energy: the ability to do work Potential Energy: energy that is stored Kinetic Energy: energy of motion - All energy is potential and kinetic

Energy Efficiency First Law Efficiency –Actual amt. of energy delivered/amt. energy supplied (Incandescent light bulbs have 5% efficiency) Second Law Efficiency –How well matched the energy end use is with the quality of the energy source (e.g., using low-quality solar energy to provide low-quality home heating, instead of high-quality fossil fuels)

Energy Conservation, Increased Efficiency and Cogeneration Conservation: getting by with less demand for energy Energy Efficiency: designing equipment to yield more energy output from a given amount of input energy Cogeneration: a number of processes designed to capture and use waste heat rather than simply to release it into the atmosphere

Energy Policy Hard Path vs. Soft Path –Hard Path: finding greater amounts of fossil fuels and building larger power plants –Soft Path: involves energy alternatives that emphasize energy quality and flexibility Integrated, Sustainable Energy Management –Integrated Energy Management: no single energy source can provide all the energy required by the world –Sustainable Energy Management: provides reliable sources of energy without causing serious harm, all while ensuring that future generations inherit a fair share of Earth’s resources