[caption id="attachment_68" align="alignright" width="347"] A Cupertino Electric utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project in progress.[/caption]
Here at Cupertino Electric, and among our clients, I am known for taking "different" approaches to problems. For moving to a new perspective and, sometimes, coming up with innovative solutions. I also occasionally write brief essays that discuss some of my opinions and views, but I've kept them to myself until I was honored by the request to put them in this blog.
By way of introduction, an apologia; I'll go back to basics and look at the fundamentals with new eyes. For instance, I'll write about what energy is and does, about how we value (or don't) the energy we consume, and (here's the apology) about entropy, the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Then, I'll cover topics such as; "Utilities are Not Power Companies," and "Why the Energy Problem Can't Be Solved," among others.
So. Energy. What is it? The simple answer is; everything. After all, the Big Bang was merely the instantaneous release of all of the energy for our Universe. There is no more coming. Some of it, riding on the waves of quantum fluctuations (differences) in energy density (temperature), coalesced into the fundamental particles of matter: electrons, protons, neutrons. Further, random variation in local energy density, moved these fundamental particles into proximity where, well, gravity was invented. Add several billions of years, and, voila!, here we are. Finally, energy is heat.
My view of energy says that it is the term we use to express "potential", the ability to do useful work. "Power," on the other hand, is the expression we use when energy is allowed to flow over time. Energy flows and produces useful work only when there is a "difference" in local density; It flows from higher density (higher temperature) to lower. Without a difference in potential—however small—work cannot be produced. Subject to future discussion, I'd like to offer that electricity is only the latest, and perhaps most efficient, way of delivering heat energy, or potential to do work, over long distances.
Energy heat, is—at least here in the USA—expressed in British Thermal Units (BTUs). A BTU is that amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. (A calorie, the metric equivalent of a BTU, is that amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius). One Watt contains 3.412 BTU, or enough energy to raise the temperature of a little more than three pounds of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Now, this energy flows over time, so one Watt, 3.412 BTU, expended over one hour is, appropriately enough, called a "Watt-hour."
One thousand watts, a kilowatt, 3412 BTU, expended in an hour is called a "kilowatt-hour." Therefore, to own the potential energy of these BTUs delivered as electricity, we pay about 15 cents.
But what, exactly, is a kilowatt-hour (kWh)? How much "work" does it do? I often ask these questions of my audience when making a presentation. As it turns out, they're mostly rhetorical questions. That's unfortunate because ignorance of the answers has lead, and continues to lead, us to take our energy consumption for granted, ignoring the consequences of unbridled use.
One kWh raises the temperature of more than one-and-a-half TONS of water by one Fahrenheit. One kWh converts to 2,655,224 foot-pounds (ft-lb). I weigh 235 pounds and my arms are 34" long (2.83 feet), so one pull-up requires 235 x 2.83 = 665 ft-lbs. Thus, a kilowatt-hour that costs roughly 15 cents, is, ahem, equivalent to my being able to perform 2,655,224 ÷ 665 = 3987 pull-ups in one hour. Here, I'll give you 15 cents. You do the pull-ups. No? OK then, how about $1?
Looked at another way, would you pay $1 per kWh on your electric bill? I don't think so. Thus is the value of the energy we consume every hour of every day established.
One axiom, or basis, expanded upon in future postings will involve the idea that energy, be it electric, fossil, nuclear, whatever, is simply too cheap for us to proactively develop and incorporate renewable or even sustainable power technologies into our lives.
Thanks for reading this and for taking the time to consider what's been said and, regardless of your point of view, responding.
–Steve Schumer, P.E.
Cupertino Electric, Inc.
