America and the world face daunting questions about how we produce energy and how we use it. Conservation and improved energy efficiency can help in reducing energy requirements, but cannot halt the steady increase in energy consumption. Increasing world population and increasing energy appetites in emerging economies will create competition for energy resources for all nations.
The possibilities for future energy production include fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, oil sands, and oil shale), biofuels, solar, wind, hydroenergy, geothermal and nuclear (probably fission and possibly fusion). Each of these sources has relative advantages and disadvantages. The problem is to produce enough sustainable energy while avoiding unacceptable environmental consequences, especially climate change.
In order to evaluate the potential of the various energy options, citizens must understand the basic science that underlies each potential energy source and each energy use technology. This knowledge permits assessment of what is possible and practical and, maybe more importantly, what is impossible or impractical. Fortunately most of the pertinent science is old, well established and, for the most part, quite simple. This science provides a framework into which one can insert real data and draw conclusions. Without such quantitative assessments, claims about capabilities of the various energy options must be viewed as unverified assumptions rather than hard facts. This book presents the essential science in an easy-to-understand, yet comprehensive way.
A big change in the ways that we produce and use energy is inevitable. Informed choices will help avoid waste, avoid unnecessary disruptions in our lives and avoid undesirable environmental effects. The purpose of this book is to help the reader make informed decisions about which energy production technologies to support and which energy use technologies and lifestyle options to implement in his/her personal life.
Acknowledgment
About the Author
Preface
Part I : Getting Started
Chapter 1 : Introduction to the Energy Story
Chapter 2 : Fundamentals
Chapter 3 : Energy Production and Consumption
Part II : Energy Sources
Chapter 4 : Fossil Fuels
Chapter 5 : Renewables
Chapter 6 : Solar Energy
Chapter 7 : Biofuels
Chapter 8 : Wind Energy
Chapter 9 : Hydroenergy
Chapter 10 : Geothermal Energy
Chapter 11 : Nuclear Energy
Chapter 12 : Hydrogen
Chapter 13 : Energy Transport
Part III : Energy Demand
Chapter 14 : Population and Energy Demand
Chapter 15 : Residential Energy Use
Chapter 16 : Commercial Energy Use
Chapter 17 : Industrial Energy Use
Chapter 18 : Transportation Energy Use
Chapter 19 : Energy and Climate Change
Chapter 20 : Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Part IV : Creating Sustainable Energy
Chapter 21 : Energy, Economics, and Government
Chapter 22 : Summing Up
Appendices
Appendix A : Mass and Weight
Appendix B : Conversion Factors
Appendix C : Fuel Heating Values
Appendix D : Stirling Engines
Appendix E : Energy-related Websites
Appendix F : Oil Depletion Analysis : The Hubbert Solution
Appendix G : Solar Radiation
Appendix H : Orientation of Solar Collectors
Appendix I : Photovoltaics
Appendix J : Radiation Absorption Physics
Appendix K : Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
Appendix L : Triglycerides
Appendix M : Bioethanol
Appendix N : Biobutanol
Appendix O : Biomethane
Appendix P : Physics of Falling and Moving Fluids
Appendix Q : Energy Use In Specific Industries
Glossary
Index
