Are We Really Being Efficient?

In recent years, we've seen a push to improve howconsidered as wasted energy. As the difference
efficiently we use our energy. But, is this proliferation ofbetween the energy we are given and the energy we
energy saving programs and incentives really helping toare using for something useful becomes larger, we
alleviate the energy crisis we're facing. If it is, is itincrease the amount of wasted energy.
enough? Is buying energy saving lights and appliancesThis is where the term efficiency comes in. If
really going help us decrease the number of generatingefficiency is defined by the utilization of a commodity in
facilities we require to provide us with the energy wethe best possible manner while providing the least
need now and in the future? Should we be confidentamount of waste, then we need to consider bringing
that our politicians really understand how to fix ourthese two values (KVA and KW closer together). A
current and future energy situation?simple decrease in productive energy (KW) does not
I suppose we could take the position that every little bitnecessarily improve the efficiency of the electrical
helps. I can't deny that no matter how much or howsystem.
little we save, it is better than doing nothing! But weConsider the following:
have to question if the organizations and authoritiesA facility requires 800KW of productive power to
providing these incentives are taking the bestoperate. In order to get this productive power the
approach to solving our energy problems.generator is required to provide 1000KVA of total
How is it that we can expect someone withoutpower. This means that the facility is only 80%
experience or understanding in technical arena ofefficient, or we can say it has a power factor of 80%.
electricity to make competent decisions about theOut of this 1000KVA of total power, 20% is being
future of energy in North America? This is where thewasted by producing no work at all. If we improve the
root of our problem begins. Hopefully someone,level of efficiency (power factor) to 95%, the
somewhere with the ability to influence policy willgenerator is only required to provide 842KVA of total
stumble across this article and begin to think about thepower to get the same amount of productive work
effectiveness of our current position towards reducing(KW). The result of this is an additional 158KW of
energy demand.potential power to distribute elsewhere.
In power distribution there are two key terms used toIt is the understanding of this very concept that we
measure our demand for energy. The first is KVAneed to understand in order to improve our energy
(kilovolt-amperes), which is used to express the totalsituation and to answer our question about the
amount of power being generated and provided to theeffectiveness of these programs. Power Factor will
consumer. The second is KW (kilowatts), which isprovide us with a real measure of how efficiently we
used to express the amount of power the consumerare using our energy right now and will allow us to
converts in to work. The ratio between these twocompare how well these incentives are working to
terms is known as Power Factor and is directlyimprove our efficiency.
related to the amount of KVAR or reactive power inAlthough brief and only meant as an introduction, I
the electrical system. This Reactive power (KVAR)sincerely hope that this article will bring new light to
produces no work and is only used to provide thehow we view and manage this serious energy
magnetic field used to power many types ofproblem we face not only for today, but for our future.
equipment. Since it produces no work, it can be