Concerning the posted article feedback, I believe I should be the last person
in the world to be accused of not distinguishing between energy and power
correctly. Dozens of notes were posted on this forum from me concerning that
issue. Let me quote myself from the recently published book "POWER HUNGRY" by
Robert Bryce. On page 38 he quotes me as follows:
"..... defining energy and power. One of the best explanations I've heard comes
from Stan Jakuba..... he said: Energy has many forms, such as electricity,
heat, work, kinetic energy, .... Energy can be visualized as an amount of
something. Power is the energy flow. ..... Energy is a sum. Power is a (time)
rate. And rates are often more telling than sums."
So, in the article in question, when I used the term energy in combination with
another word, such as e. rate, e. usage, e. consumption (but NOT e. consumED),
etc. it means, of course, power. I could use any number of "joules per ....
day, hour, fortnight,... second" to express that. Being a rational person, I
obviously select the simplest and SI way - using the W.
The moral is - let's pay attention to the modifiers accompanying the term
energy. They determine whether those two words in combination mean power or
not. Example: Energy usage is power. Energy used is energy.
As a side issue, millions of people all over the world have been debating the
renewable energy and related issues. Most of the debates are 100 % useless as
they are attended by people of the type that I confronted at a city hall. His
response: "Do not confuse me with numbers." So, when I came across this quote
(below), I felt better. I hope you will too..
βHe who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.β
β John McCarthy (computer pioneer, Stanford University)
Stan Jakuba
