Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker Energy Consciousness and Conservation Focus the Nation, 2009 Professor Stryker, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker Energy Consciousness  Making correct choices about energy use.   How do you know the choice is correct?   What to consider: source – where does it come from? sink – where does it go? social costs and implications political costs and implications economic impact

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker How we heat water: 1. Burn coal 2. Heat water to very high temperature and pressure steam 3. Use the steam to turn a turbine which drives an electric generator 4. Transport the electricity to your hot water heater 5. Heat the water in the tank 6. Transport the water to your shower and mix with cold water Is this the best use way to use energy to heat water?

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker Energy Conservation First Law of Thermodynamics

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker 1st Law of Thermodynamics: Conservation of Energy Energy stored in the System Energy Transferred In Energy Transferred Out Ein – Eout = dEsystem/dt

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker What is the system? An automobile What is the energy ‘in’ for each of the systems? Is there a limit to the supply? What are the implications of a limited supply? The Earth

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker Where does the energy ‘out’ go?  What is a sink?  Are sinks important?  How much can you put in the sink?  What affects the rate of energy out?

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker Economy  The economy is a subsystem of the earth.  The energy available to enable economic activity is finite.  A sustainable economy requires sustainable management of the energy resources.

Focus the Nation, Prof. Stryker  Are conscious decisions to conserve energy important?  Who is responsible?  Responsible for what and to whom? Thank you Summary