HVAC and the Use of Electricity in America

Energy Expenditure

Everyone understands the issue at hand. Heating and air conditioning use a great deal of electricity. If you use your HVAC system for any length of time, you know this. Every month when the bill comes from the energy supplier, you understand all over again how much you are spending on energy.

This overall expenditure on energy is also having an effect on the HVAC industry as a whole. The average American homeowner is on the hunt for efficient heating and cooling systems. Folks are interested in reducing the amount of money that leaves their bank accounts. They also want to think of ways to reduce their carbon footprint on the planet.

The electric bills during the summer months can be high and these bills clue people in on their expenditure. Personal use of heating and cooling devices is on the rise and technology brings new machines to the public every day. An examination of overall levels of energy use brings an understanding of how much of our natural resources are being used up for our comfort.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

HVAC systems have the arduous task of being at natural odds with the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This law declares that the “total entropy can never decrease over time for an isolated system. Total entropy remains constant in ideal cases when the system is in a steady state. Total entropy always increases and this process is irreversible.” With regard to HVAC, this essentially gives the reason why temperatures will always tend to go from hot to cold.

The amount of energy required to constantly battle this law of thermodynamics is immense. As the system takes action against the heat buildup by moving refrigerants through states of expansion and compression, energy expenditure goes up. The refrigerant absorbs the heat and absorbs it into the atmosphere outside the dwelling. Pumps, motors, and fans are powered by electricity, so any more efficient use of electricity is welcome.

In short, the entropy war comes with a very large wartime expenditure budget. More than 20% of any households overall energy expenditure is sent to the power company. This level of usage explains why some parts of the grid must have extra generators and routes for incoming levels of electricity from outsourcing to other areas of the country. Areas that experience great drains at peak times must sometimes rely on other areas of the nation to provide demand from the consumer.

Just for an easy comparison, the total energy consumption of American households during peak times of the summer and winter seasons is higher than 10 third world countries put together.

As you look at HVAC and the use of electricity in America, take into consideration all the things that are driven by electricity. Begin to see how important it is to have a very clear understanding of what it is costing our budgets and our natural resources.