Conserve electricity at the peaks
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Energy conservation
I read with interest the proposals for more wind farms to produce electricity. This proposal has merit but it is not the answer to blackouts and shortages during periods of extreme heat or cold. Electricity is radically different from other energy forms because it cannot be stored yet must be immediately available on demand. The shortages occur during these peaks when air conditioning in the summer or electric heating in the winter make sudden demands on the system. When electricity is purchased in excess for these peaks, the emergency situation in California in 2001 can easily occur. The state was trying to sell electricity that it purchased for a premium as much as 75 percent below its original price. If they fail to purchase electricity and the weather turns they may have blackouts. The key to electricity conservation is not to simply reduce consumption but to reduce it when the system is nearing its peak. In other words, residents and business would have to curb heating in the coldest days and air conditioning during heat waves. If they cut use at 3 in the morning or when temperatures are moderate, they have no real impact on the problem. Similarly wind power is helpful only if it blows during extreme hot or cold periods. Solar power would help greatly during heat waves but is not useful during winter freezes.
Fortunately we do have a technology which could work effectively to reduce peak power consumption during the heat waves and cold spells. It is proven and effective and it remains a mystery to me why this was not a key part in the new energy plans. It is known as the ground-source heat pump(also geo-thermal) which is readily available to any business and home owner who is willing to bear the higher expense in order to install this system of cooling and heating. The principle is simple. Air conditioner/heat pumps must operate in the outside temperature. When the temperature is 100+ they must try to push heat into the hot air. When it is -10, the system must try to extract heat from air that has very little. However, there is a vastly superior source of heat just 4-6 feet under the ground which remains at a constant 55 degrees year round. The ground source air conditioner can easily shed heat a few feet underground and work far less than it would in the hot air. The ground source heat pump can draw heat from the ground that is far warmer than the winter air above. Not only does this system reduce electricity usage year around, it become especially effective during the extreme heat and cold when supplies are at a premium. President Bush has one for his Texas residence. When his own money is at stake, it looks like a good investment.
While more expensive to install, it would significantly minimize peak power demand even if the proportion of users were low. Residences that have a lot of ground could bury the tubing in the yard and save year around. Large shopping malls could have the tubes buried under the parking lot. The government could offer tax credits for installing these systems instead of tax credits to find more oil when domestic supplies have long since been exhausted. Because the expense of the system would go to American labor for manufacturing and installation, the credits would enhance employment here instead of the OPEC coffers. I want to stress that I have no financial interest in ground source technology. I am simply concerned at the way debate on America’s problems produces ineffective or self-serving proposals.