There are many motivations to improve energy efficiency. … According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy efficiency in buildings,
Energy is a key element in the development of today’s society and efficient energy must be one of its main objectives. It represents one of the most fundamental factors for the sectors of a country to be competitive. The increase in energy consumption, derived from economic growth and the tendency to satisfy the greatest number of needs, makes it increasingly urgent to integrate energy efficiency and renewable energies in the world. It is necessary to use energy more sustainably in the following fields:
- Efficient use of energy at the endpoint of use – buildings, vehicles, and appliances, industrial processes and take care of the transfer of energy between production and consumption.
- Greater use of renewable energies for the production of energy.
- Development of energy technologies with less impact.
What is energy efficiency?
A definition is the ability of a team, installation or process to perform its function with the lowest possible energy consumption
In the same way we can understand the energy-saving or what energy is as the decrease of the primary energy consumption of a power consumption center by the implementation of technical or non-technical measures, keeping in all cases the fulfillment of the planned objectives, and without diminishing the quality, productivity, physical security of the people and patrimonial of the goods and without producing greater environmental impact than the primitive situation. We require energy for the development of today’s society. Knowing how energy consumption may come to use for optimal use helps improve society as a whole.
But what is energy? It is easy to understand
The abstract definition of energy as a physical magnitude moves away from the meaning that can be given in its daily use. Taking into account the importance of energy in physics, it is a fundamental concept to be able to develop a high energy quality in society.
Without being very rigorous we could say that it is a measure of the capacity of a physical entity to produce work (magnitude associated to force and movement).
Energy is the ability to do a job
This capacity exists even if this work is not carried out. For example, if a child throws a toy from a balcony, the toy has previously had the energy (potential energy) that makes it reach the ground, then be destroyed.
One of the properties of energy is that it cannot be created, nor can it be destroyed. When the objects interact with each other, the magnitudes that determine the amount of energy can vary, but even if there are exchanges of energy, the sum of all their energies will always remain constant. It is what is known as the Energy Conservation Principle.
The objects of the universe possess energy for various reasons:
- The speed at which they move.
- For his position.
- For the amount of mass they have.
This is not entirely true (if from a point of view of the universe) since there are energies that lend themselves more than others to be transformed. In all the transformations of energy, there is some quantity that becomes heat and dissipates in the environment, remaining in an unusable form.
How important it is for society to use and produce energy is developed throughout our web.
Energy efficiency
Keep in mind that all forms of energy are not equal, according to the second principle of thermodynamics. The consequence is that work can be totally converted into heat but not heat completely into work.
The efficiency of the energy or its performance decreases as the energy transforms again and the efficiency in the conversion of energy is decreasing.
Energy management, definition
We can define energy management as the development of all the necessary tools for the control of all installations and processes that intervene in the consumption of energy.
Its control and optimization is fundamental and can produce incredible savings on the energy bill.
The energy audits are one of the biggest weapons to achieve efficient energy management.
Units of energy, measures in the world
We can think about how we can measure energy. Throughout the centuries, many units have been in observations according to the countries, characteristics, and behavior of energy with some substances, such as water.
We can define it as the work that realizes a force of a Newton to obtain the displacement of a meter, in the direction of the force.
But it is not the only unit that exists in the world. Among which we can find include:
- BTU (British thermal unit) = 1055.1 J
- Calories = 4.18 J
- tep (equivalent tonne of oil) = 4.18 x 10 10 J
- kWh (KiloWatt Hour) = 3.6 x 10 6 J
Types of energy, a complete classification
The forms of energy that are shown in nature are as follows-
These kinds of energy are different faces of the same concept, but it is easier to understand it globally.
- Kinetic energy: related to movement.
- Potential energy: according to the position of a mass.
- Electric power: the one obtained with a difference of electric potential.
- Light energy: the source of light sources, such as fire or sun.
- Mechanical energy
- Thermal energy: manifests in the form of heat.
- Wind energy: the wind and how to take advantage of its strength.
- Solar energy: captures the sun’s radiation.
- Photovoltaic energy: a type of solar energy that transforms solar radiation into electricity.
- Hydraulic or hydroelectric power: take advantage of the height difference of the water in a dam.
- Tidal energy: the sea as an energy producer.
- Biomass energy: it releases the energy of the vegetal matter.
- Geothermal energy: takes advantage of the temperature difference between the inside of the earth and its surface.
- Nuclear energy: related to nuclear reactions.
- Chemical energy: from chemical reactions, for example, the fuel of an engine.-
- Sound energy
- Radiant energy
- Reaction energy
- Ionic energy
- Electromagnetic energy
- Metabolic energy
- Magnetic energy
- Heat energy
Kinetic energy, that of movement
Experience tells us that bodies in certain circumstances can produce a job.
For example, a bullet through a piece of wood produces a job overcoming the resistance to penetration that wood produces.
Another example, the wind blowing on the sails of a ship sets it in motion and produces a job.
Since energy is the ability of a body to perform a job. We can measure energy by the work it can perform. Kinetic energy is defined by the work that can be produced by a mass equipped with speed.
Potential energy, depending on the position I occupy, is my energy
Not only moving bodies produce energy. A tennis ball held by hand at a certain height has a capacity or potential to do a job when we release it.
An arc in tension also has potential energy that becomes kinetic when it triggers. In this case, the potential energy is elastic. Power Quality Management is the best option for you.
Electric power, fundamental in today’s society
It is the form of energy that results from the potential difference between two points that, if they are attached with a conductive material, produce an electric current with which work is obtained.
Although some buildings are heated using electricity, their most common use is to provide mechanical and light energy to buildings.
Wind energy, the wind, and its movement
Energy obtained by wind through the use of kinetic energy caused by the effect of air currents and transmitted to a mill for further transformation into electricity.
Solar energy, the sun as a generator
One can obtain it from the capture of its radiation either in the form of heat (solar thermal) or electromagnetic (solar photovoltaic).
Tidal energy, the sea, and its movement
We can obtain it by capturing the energy of the tides. We can finish it with an alternator that can come into use to generate electricity.
Energy from biomass, plant residues to produce energy
Biomass is all organic matter of plant origin that store energy thanks to photosynthesis, which takes place when sunlight combined with water, mineral salts and carbon dioxide causes it to develop.
