Comments on: US Wastes 61–86% Of Its Energy

By: Ed Pell

Ed Pell — Mon, 26 May 2014 01:48:00 +0000

Folks, to convert heat energy into mechanical motion we have to use a heat engine. The fraction of energy converted into energy of useful motion is set by the equations derived by Carnot in 1824. Higher temperature give higher efficiencies. As soon as humankind invents new materials that can survive at the super high temperatures needed to improve heat engine efficiencies then we will have higher efficiencies.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:21:00 +0000

So what?

All you are saying is that it is impossible to get to 100% efficiency. See anyone making the claim we can?

Heat rejection is waste. It’s more of a problem with some approaches than with others. The task at hand is to figure out how to do what we want to do in the most efficient manner. Identifying systems that have the highest heat waste problems tells us where gains are likely to be easiest.

Ditching the internal combustion engine in a no-brainer. Getting rid of fossil-fuel thermal, another.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 21:13:00 +0000

This is a grave misunderstanding of thermodynamics. There’s no such thing as 100% conversion efficiency, so it’s misleading to term heat rejection as waste, when in fact it’s an unavoidable part of conversion systems. Please research your claims more thoroughly.

By: James Ferguson @kWIQly

James Ferguson @kWIQly — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:44:00 +0000

Great Insight – Love the Sankey Diagram

By: Altair IV

Altair IV — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 21:23:00 +0000

It would be much easier to agree with your pronouncement if it didn’t include at least five blatant grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 03:21:00 +0000

First time I saw one of these graphs I had trouble making heads or tails out of it.

Try clicking on it and zooming in so it fills your screen. Start on the left with one of the categories and follow it to the end.

Once you get the hang of them, there’s a tremendous amount of information in them.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 03:15:00 +0000

I like the graph – and find myself thinking of how to better organize the information. If I had a complaint about the article, it would be that there is no benchmark for energy efficiency – so I don’t know if the US is better or worse than other countries.

By: dirt coach

dirt coach — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 01:13:00 +0000

if something confusing or to complicated the simplist explanation is your stupid

By: jburt56

jburt56 — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 16:57:00 +0000

Yes the waste is staggering. Behold Robosaurus!!

Happy Monday

By: peleve

peleve — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 14:18:00 +0000

A confusing graph. Too busy.