Energy

Energy is a force of nature represented in modern science as electrons, positrons and neurons.

Energy Sources

This section in particular, focuses on so-called "dirty energy", "old-world economy" and/or "non-renewable" energy sources.

Biofuels

A biofuel is a fuel that contains energy from geologically recent carbon fixation. These fuels are produced from living organisms. Examples of this carbon fixation occur in plants and microalgae. These fuels are made by a biomass conversion (biomass refers to recently living organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials). This biomass can be converted to convenient energy containing substances in three different ways: thermal conversion, chemical conversion, and biochemical conversion. This biomass conversion can result in fuel in solid, liquid, or gas form.

• wikipedia: Biofuel

Wood

The original "biofuel", burning wood (think furnaces and campfires) has kept people warm in cold climates and seasons since the dawn of man.

• wikipedia: Wood

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. It generates heat/potential energy when it is combusted, which is used for instance to heat water in the powering of steam engines. When coal is used for electricity generation, it is usually pulverized and then combusted (burned) in a furnace with a boiler. The furnace heat converts boiler water to steam, which is then used to spin turbines which turn generators and create electricity. The thermodynamic efficiency of this process has been improved significantly over time, but there are still substantial envrionmental impacts (see: wikipedia: Environmental impact of the coal industry).

• wikipedia: Coal
• wikipedia: Mountaintop removal mining
• Coal Resources (CANADA): http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/auth/english/maps/economic/energy/Coal/1

Oil

Crude oil comes in many forms. Usually it is black, but green, red or brown oils are not uncommon. Most oils are mixtures of many different compounds, most of which are hydrocarbons (varying from bitumen to algae to ancient tree resin to one-celled plants and animals called plankton).

• wikipedia: Oil

Bitumen

Bitumen-based fuel is fuel specifically developed for industrial use. The most known bitumen-based fuel is Orimulsion, an emulsion of natural bitumen which is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product.

• wikipedia: Bitumen-based fuel
• wikipedia: Natural bitumen
• wikipedia: Orimulsion

Nuclear

Nuclear Energy is the use of exothermic nuclear processes (i.e. nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion), to generate useful heat and electricity.

• wikipedia: Nuclear energy

Tools

• Measure In-Home Electricity Consumption: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/measure.html
• How Much Electricity Do My Electronics/Appliances Use?: http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html

Resources

• Canadian Power Plant Database: http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/database-cdnpowerplants/?appSession=588474573997906&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=6&CPISortType=desc&CPIorderBy=Power_plants_prov
• Electricity Pricing - Guide to Canadian Electricity Rates: http://www.electricity.ca/media/Presentations/Electricity%20Pricing%20Presentation.pdf
• Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) from appliances: http://stopsmartmeters.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/PGEunderstandEMF21.jpg
• One-Third of US Homes Have a Smart Meter: http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/one-third-of-u.s.-homes-have-a-smart-meter/
• What Makes a Smart Meter Smart?: http://refusesmartmeters.com/What%20Makes%20a%20Smart%20Meter%20Smart%20May%202011%20Rev%203.pdf
• Visualizing The U.S. Electric Grid: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997398
• Center for Energy -- NB's Energy Sources: http://www.centreforenergy.com/factsstats/MapsCanada/NB-EnergyMap.asp

CANADA

• NB Power: https://www.nbpower.com | Outage Map
• NS Power: http://www.nspower.ca/

Tutorials

• NS Power - How To Read Your (Analog) Meter: http://www.nspower.ca/en/home/residential/billing/readyourmeter.aspx
• 10 Energy myths revealed: http://www.nspower.ca/en/home/energysavings/energymyths.aspx
• How to find a replacement adapter by matching stats: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-find-a-replacement-adapter-by-matching-stats-/10000000178910944/g.html
• Everything you wanted to know about charging your iPhone or iPad: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3511
• Is it cheaper to Bath or Shower, what's the potential impact of leaving your devices charging to long through "Vampire power draw" losses (up to 23% of annual costs), and more energy efficiency questions answered: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/mar/29/cheaper-bath-shower-energy-questions-answered-reduce-bills

External Links

• wikipedia: Energy
• How much electricity does an American home use?: http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3
• Average Canadian KwH usage per household: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/jun12/energy_use_canada_map.asp
• How many KWh do you use in a day?: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/how-many-kwh-do-you-use-day-936908/
• List of 7 Next-Gen Biofuels According to Popular Mechanics: http://www.goodcleantech.com/2008/08/list_of_7_nextgen_biofuels_acc_1.php
• Pitchfork-wielding mobs encircle smart meters: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/27/smart_meter_backlash/
• Japan's 2nd pluthermal nuclear power generation to begin in Ehime: http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/japans-2nd-pluthermal-nuclear-power-generation-to-begin-in-ehime
• The Obama administration's 2011 budget - once again - proposes a crippling tax increase on America's homegrown natural gas and oil industry: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/20399
• Kanagawa Clean Energy Plan 2010-2011: http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/osirase/01/0102/sougou/sougou/kanagawaryoku/english/English.pdf
• Electric shocker - Power prices (in Canada) set to rise sharply: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/electric-shocker-power-prices-set-to-rise-sharply-1.981179
• Energy on the rocks - is combustible ice in our future?: http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/intelligent-energy/energy-on-the-rocks-is-combustible-ice-in-our-future/321/
• With EnergyGuide, labeling TVs for energy use: http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/intelligent-energy/with-energyguide-labeling-tvs-for-energy-use/3391/
• Japan’s partial meltdowns and the future of nuclear power in the U.S.: http://www.smartplanet.com/business/blog/intelligent-energy/japans-partial-meltdowns-and-the-future-of-nuclear-power-in-the-us/5174/
• Know Your Energy Use? (QUIZ): http://planetgreen.discovery.com/games-quizzes/energy-use-quiz/
• I think someone is stealing my electricity (or the power company is making up numbers or recording inacurrately): http://www.joshuakennon.com/i-think-someone-is-stealing-my-electricity
• The Energy Saving Investigation Continues!: http://www.joshuakennon.com/the-energy-saving-investigation-continues
• How Low Can You Go?: http://thegreencanadian.blogspot.ca/2009/07/how-low-can-you-go.html (Conservation is the easiest way to lower Energy bills)
• Underneath the Arctic ice lies a political bloodbath: https://thetempest.co/2021/01/03/news/underneath-the-arctic-ice-lies-a-political-bloodbath/
• Storms batter aging power grid as climate disasters spread: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/science/storms-batter-aging-power-grid-as-climate-disasters-spread/ar-AAVVDSx?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=c154e54e4ff74d24b73a3972d86366fa

See Also

Renewable Energy | Wind Energy | Solar Energy | Hydro-Electric Energy | Tidal Energy | Geo-Thermal