Energy Basics

Energy: the ability to do work

Chapter 16
Potential Energy: energy that is stored

Energy: Some Basics

Kinetic Energy: energy of motion

- All energy is potential and kinetic

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Energy Efficiency
• First Law Efficiency
– The amount of energy without any
consideration of the quality of availability of
the energy
• Second Law Efficiency
– How well matched the energy end use is with
the quality of the energy source

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1
 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

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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
• Energy for Tomorrow
• 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 generation inherit a fair share
of Earth’s resources
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