|
|
|
|
|
Embodied Energy Everything which is made uses up energy to supply it. And energy use usually means emitting Carbon Gases and using up natural resources. So, if you buy something which is going to reduce carbon emissions you first need to know how much carbon was emitted in the making of it - the 'embodied energy' - to know how long you'll need to use the thing to 'pay back' the 'carbon debt'. For instance, you need to use electricity to make solar cells, which then produce electricity, but how long do you have to use a cell for before it has 'paid back' the electricity used to make it? This is important, because there some technologies (early wind turbines and photoelectric cells, the 'kinetic pavement', and most forms of Hydrogen Energy) which actually use up more energy to manufacture than they will ever, ever produce in their entire lifetime - a net waste of time and effort. But some systems work really well. It is, of course, hugely variable, but, very roughly, insulating your house will pay back the carbon debt in the insulation used in about 6 months, a wind turbine will take about a year and solar panels two years, but a wood stove will repay its debt in only about 30 days (5kW at 6 hrs/day). An electric car will take at least 1000 hours, according to www.volkswagenag.com  For instance... (there's more information at: The ICE database)
THIS IS BASED ON: Energy use in buildings: The embodied CO2 of sustainable energy technologies used in buildings: A review article (2018) Embodied energy and carbon: The ICE database Methods of calculating Embodied Energy/Carbon in stuff by Nicola Terry (2016) Wind Turbines: Life cycle energy and greenhouse emissions analysis of wind turbines and the effect of size on energy yield (2009) Embeded energy in solar cells: Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (2019) Electric cars: www.volkswagenag.com MORE: Wikipedia on Embodied Energy:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_energyAt the Institute of Civil Engineers: https://www.ice.org.uk/knowledge-and-resources/briefing-sheet/embodied-energy-and-carbon
|
|
MORE FROM Soliftec... Home ● Fuel Costs ● Installation ● Library ● About ● Air Supply ● Blogspot ● Building Rules ● Carbon Monoxide ● CE Marking ● Dictionary ● Efficiency ● Electricity - CHP ● Embodied Energy ● Fascinating Facts ● Fireplace Doctor ● Fuel Properties ● Heat Need ● Heroes ● Legislation ● Manufacturers ● Open Fires ● Ringelmann Scale ● Smog and Smoke Control ● Smoke ● Solid Fuels ● Standards ● Statistics ● Stove History ● Tables, Data and Formulas ● Test Laboratories ● Thatched Roofs ● The Carbon Cycle ● The Chimney Effect ● Wood Fuel ● Email: info@soliftec.com COPYRIGHT and ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: © Soliftec Ltd, Wednesday 01 July 2020 BUILT WITH WHIMBERRY matrixstats |