- The 5 most important uses of energy
- 1- Thermal conditioning of buildings
- 2- Use of vehicles for travel
- 3- Entertainment and fun
- 4- Medical procedures
- 5- Caring for the environment
- References
The importance of energy is that it increases industrial productivity and improves the comfort of everyday life. This plays a fundamental role in the life of the human being.
Energy comes from different sources, such as heat, light, movement, electricity, chemistry, and nuclear energy, among others.
The human being uses energy for everything. For example, the human body uses energy even in those processes that it performs on an unconscious level, such as breathing, muscle contraction, and temperature regulation.
Power sources are divided into two groups. They can be renewable, which are those that are easily replaced.
They can also be non-renewable, which are those that man cannot replace with his own means, such as coal, natural gas and oil.
The energy allows to cool a home, cook food, travel by plane and illuminate the rooms, among other functions.
The 5 most important uses of energy
1- Thermal conditioning of buildings
Power generating plants produce geothermal energy using dry steam or geothermal hot water. This water is accessed by digging wells.
That dry steam or hot water is brought to the surface through pipes, to later transform it into electricity. In this way it is possible to heat and cool buildings and industries.
2- Use of vehicles for travel
With the invention of the automobile, man managed to move more comfortably and in less time. This would not be possible without the intervention of fuel and electricity.
3- Entertainment and fun
Energy is present in all instances of human life, and fun is not relegated.
For example, the operation of a roller coaster depends on kinetic energy; the moment the roller coaster descends, it increases its speed thanks to the energy.
4- Medical procedures
Nuclear medicine uses energy obtained from the correct manipulation of atoms.
Nuclear energy is used in treatments for cancer patients, through the provision of radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant tumors.
5- Caring for the environment
Solar energy and wind energy, called renewable energy, are used by the governments of many countries to reduce environmental pollution.
Wind energy is inexhaustible and reduces the use of fossil fuels. A clear example of this type of energy are wind turbines.
Solar panels, which capture energy from solar radiation, are used to produce hot water and light in homes that have this type of device. In recent years, an attempt has been made to link sustainability with the correct use of energy.
Currently there is talk of sustainable architecture, which is one that takes into account the incidence of the sun's path in buildings, recyclable materials and accessories that rationalize water, and solar collectors.
References
- Samuel Markings, “Three Ways the Body Uses Energy”, 2017. Retrieved on December 6, 2017 from sciencing.com
- Fundación Energizar, "Sustainable Architecture", 2017. Retrieved on December 6, 2017 from energizer.com
- Dan Green / Jack Challoner. Dorling Kindersley, Eyewitness Energy, 2016. Retrieved on December 6, 2017 from explainthatstuff.com
- Chris Woodford, Power and Energy, 2004. Retrieved on December 6, 2017 from explainthatstuff.com
- EIAEnergy Information Administration, "What is energy?" Retrieved on December 6, 2017 from eia.gov