Gore: U.S. Can Get 100 Percent Renewable Energy in 10 Years ?

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by brianidaho

The power it consumed (energy) to do so is a function of how long your electric kettle was on and drawing 3kW

Power isn't energy.
It's rate.

[LMagic007]

Originally Posted by brianidaho

Technically you are correct, it that energy is not destroyed, it is converted to another form. The odd aspect comes from terminology to an extent. Electrical energy, when referred to as kWH, is more appropriately considered power consumption. Electrical energy is converted to another form, heat, mechanical work, etc. So with a time of zero, the "potential for doing work" exists due to the energy balance of whatever system, but "power consumption" equals zero. Just mudding up the waters even more.... The definition of work and power click for me reasonably well (as a mechanical guy)...actually understanding energy is really a bit more involved, and still confuses me to a point.

Oh I agree, it's just energy transfer that changes the form of energy, but its always there in one form or another 24 / 7 never goes away. Energy is here there and everywhere. Energy transfer involves work and time. Power is just a rate or measurement of the work done over time and hence a measurement of the transfer of energy and not energy itself. Energy doesn't need power to exist. Energy is independent of power. Energy is inherently more fundamental than power. Energy always exists in one form or another, always present somewhere, no matter what span, moment or instant of time one chooses to consider.

Just to make this discussion somewhat relevant to the topic in this thread, it's evident that Al Gore has the energy, but I'm still not sure he has the power. Gore has demonstrated the will and capacity to create public awareness and shown enthusiastic energy to see big changes and perhaps influence others, but again can this be transferred into useful work and thus measured in terms of directed power over time, that would see significant change. If he does, I hope its for the betterment of all man kind.

[brianidaho]

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Power isn't energy.
It's rate.

Agreed. Power (Rate of energy transfer) X Time = Energy

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by brianidaho

Agreed. Power (Rate of energy transfer) X Time = Energy

I was referring to your comment:
"The power it consumed (energy) to do so is a function of how long your electric kettle was on and drawing 3kW ( 2 minutes in your example)."
The power that it takes is not a function of time.
The energy is.

[LMagic007]

As said, Gore seems to have the physical and intellectual energy in varied forms to promote the development of renewable energy, so his physical and intellectual energy definitely exists 24/27, all be it dormant at times and not always transferred, but it's always there at any given moment or instant in time, ready to be awakened. When Gore directs his energy, work might then be done over time and measured at a certain rate of human effort, commonly known as people power.

There are plenty of people leading far less fulfilling and less productive lives than Gore, so I say good on him for having a go and taking advantage of his opportunities. I think when he's no longer with us, in the decades from now, Gore will be remembered fondly by most.