MARCH 2006
Click here to
view prototype WIKI definition of bonusjoules-junkjoules construct for
measuring energy efficiency.
About Joules
Definition
of a joule: A joule is a measure or unit of energy. Energy comes in many forms and we use it in many ways.
While the amount of energy remains constant the definition of a joule changes
with different forms and uses.
If you are lifting an object, you might describe a joule as the amount of energy
equal to the work required to lift a one kilogram mass a distance of 0.101
meters, or to life a one pound mass 8.8 inches.
If you are using electricity, you might describe a joule as the amount of energy
equal to the work done when a current of one ampere is passed through a
resistance of one ohm for one second. It
can have even more technical descriptions. For instance one joule is equivalent
to 107 ergs and to 9.48 x 10-4 British Thermal Units.
If you are heating something then you might describe a joule as the amount of
energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a quantity of water one
unit of temperature at one atmosphere pressure.
If you are interested in the
variety of ways we use and measure energy, check out the range of definitions of
a joule that can be found on a single web page.
For the purposes of our discussion, just know a joule is a measure or unit of
energy.
Definition:
A bonus joule
is a measure or unit of energy efficiency, of energy used well. The word bonus is derived from the Latin word bon meaning
good. It is a unit of energy used with long-term, low-risk considerations in
mind. In other words it is a measure of energy used so as to sustain valuable
energy forms and essential balances and that works as an investment in our
children’s future.
An equivalent but less helpful measure of a bonus joule is a negawatt.
Definition: A junk joule is a measure or unit of energy inefficiency, of energy used badly. The word junk is derived from the old English word jonk meaning old discarded ships rope. Its modern meaning is flawed, useless, unwelcome, unsafe and wasted. It is a unit of energy used with only short-term, high risk considerations in mind. In other words, it is a measure of energy used so as to destroy valuable energy forms and essential balances and that works to reduce our children’s options. It is a speculative, unsafe use of energy.
Earth’s energy balance and you.
Exquisite balances exist in Earth’s energy system, enabling you to live and read this. Every move you make uses joules of energy. Every action you take alters the balance of the energy forms and flows in Earth’s energy system.
Measuring your impact on Earth’s energy balances.
It is your birthright to eat, drink, move, communicate, keep warm, and keep cool. Often you have choices how you do these.
Often it is possible to achieve your ends with uses of energy that work to sustain valuable energy forms and keep options open for our children. This energy use works to maintain global energy balances and minimise risks for us all. Each time you do this, you are generating bonus joules for the generations of humans to come to enjoy.
Some ways of achieving these ends work to disrupt the balances enabling human
existence. In fact some choices cause such changes in the patterns of global
energy flows that the survival of humanity is threatened.
Each time you make a speculative use of energy with little thought for the wider
health of the environment that puts the future welfare of humans at high risk
you are generating junk joules. Such behaviour is like investing in junk
bonds in the field of economics or spamming on the net. It tends to be a recipe
for misery and breakdown.
The Ever Interchanging Nature of Bonus Joules and Junk Joules.
We live in an ever changing flux of energy. The balances of its flows and forms constantly alter throughout the universe. As these patterns shift so does the quality of our knowledge of how the changing forces affect our planet. One day you may have reason to believe a use of energy is generating bonus joules. The next day you may learn something that makes you realise this use of energy is unwise and is more likely to be generating junk joules. Today’s bonus joule is tomorrow’s junk joule. They are complimentary, interchanging concepts.
Measuring the Impact of 0ur Uses of Energy.
Changes in the efficiency of some forms of energy use are relatively easy to measure. An example is the increased efficiency of electricity use resulting from the installation of more effective light, thermal insulation, windows or motors.
Electricity meters make it possible to measure the bonus joules or negawatts you generate when you use electricity more effectively. Similarly fuel gauges and odometers enable us to measure vehicle efficiency.
Some efficiencies are more difficult to measure and have less obvious links to your health and wealth. Your common sense reveals their existence but experts often fail to acknowledge them. For instance, our modern construct called The Economy fails to include measurements of the impact of a vast range of activities. It is essentially blind to the future and makes little distinction between the generation of bonus joules and junk joules. Indeed as it measures only that which is “traded” and can be taxed it tends to favour the production of junk joules. In such a system using an electric heater and valuable fossil fuels when you could easily keep equally warm sitting in the sun is counted as good for The Economy. Clearly the use of the electric heater rather than the solar heater generates junk joules.
Sustainable uses of energy.
We can never truly know what good comes from bad while we
are part of this great and marvellous energy system called the universe. However
where there is a will there is a way of improving measurements of both bonus
joules and junk joules. The Knowledge Economy that sustains our civilisation
into the future is our heritage of bonus joules from our careful ancestors. A
civilisation that develops flawed images of energy can soon destroy that vital
store of bonus joules and risk complete fragmentation. Always we need be open to
the possibility a bonus joule has become a junk joule and alter our behaviour
accordingly. Always we need compassion for ourselves, for others and for the
environment so we are able see and learn from our potential errors.
Amended Jan 2005
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Definitions of JOULE on
the Web Google page one:
The SI unit of energy, work, or
quantity of heat. One Joule is the energy expended when a force of one newton is
applied over a displacement of one meter in the direction of the force.
www.rvcomp.com/wiring/EIA/glossary.htm
a unit of energy. One joule is
equal to the work done when a current of one ampere is passed through a
resistance of one ohm for one second. One joule = 107 ergs = 9.48 x 10-4 BTUs. A
100-watt light bulb uses 100 joules every second. Measuring joules allows the
comparison of energy needs, capacities, and efficiencies. For example, all of
the world's humanity used 31.5 x 1018 joules of electrical, mechanical, fossil
fuel and heat energy in 1990 (Source: Mintzer, 1992).
www.globalchange.org/glossall/glossj-l.htm
A unit of energy or work which
is equivalent to one wattsecond or 0.737 footpounds. Work done when a force of
one newton moves an object one meter in the direction of the force.
www.bpa.gov/Corporate/KCC/defn/defnsmal/ijk.htm
A measure of the amount of
energy delivered by one watt of power in one second, or 1 million watts of power
in one microsecond. The joule rating of a surge protection device is the amount
of energy that it can absorb before it becomes damaged. In comparing surge
protection performance, the Joule rating of a surge suppressor is less important
than the let-through voltage rating. This reflects the fact that surge
suppressors may protect equipment by deflecting surges as well as absorbing
them. There is no standard for measuring the joule rating of surge suppressors
which has resulted in wildly exaggerated claims by unscrupulous vendors.
www.elec-saver.com/e-defs.htm
A unit of energy, work or
quantity of heat equal to 0.4342 foot-pounds. One Joule is the energy expended
when a force of one
www.networkcables.com/j.htm
Unit of energy, equivalent to
the work done in lifting a one-newton weight a distance of one meter.
www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/glossary/glossary.html
A unit of energy, equal to the
work required lift a one kilogram mass a distance of 0.101 meters, or to lift a
one pound mass 8.8 inches. For
www.nuc.berkeley.edu/thyd/icf/glossary.html
A unit of energy.
www.sea-us.org.au/glossary.html
A unit of energy or work in the
MKS system; the work done when the point of application of 1 newton is displaced
a distance of 1 meter in the direction of the force.
vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er/seh/j.html
A unit of energy. One joule
equals one watt/second.
www.cpccorp.com/pqglossary.htm
A unit of energy. One joule is
equal to the energy expended in one second by one ampere against the resistance
of one ohm. In the mechanical testing of steel it is the unit used in the Charpy
V notch impact test.
www.nass.org.uk/glossary/glossary2.htm
the unit of energy.
www.advancedforecasting.com/weathereducation/weatherglossary.html
A unit of energy. One joule is
the energy expended in 1 second by a current of 1 amp flowing through a
resistance of 1 ohm.
www.lco-college.edu/public/institutes/resdi/glossary.htm
A standard international unit of
energy; 1055 Joules is equal to 1 BTU.
www.infinitepower.org/resglossary.htm
unit of energy or work used in
rating gas turbine ignition systems. A joule is equal to the amount of energy
expended in one second by an electric current of one ampere through a resistance
of one ohm.
www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/fm/1-506/Gloss.htm
SI unit of energy (or work or
heat) equal to one newton-meter.
home.earthlink.net/~collinc/physics/vocab.html
a unit of energy or work which
is equivalent to one watt per second or 0.737 foot-pounds; a calorie is equal to
4.184 joules.
www.sgia.org/glossary/Jj.cfm
The unit of work; the product of
a force of one newton acting through a distance of one meter.
cougar.slvhs.slv.k12.ca.us/~pboomer/physicstextbook/physglossary.html
A unit of measured energy. One
calorie is equal to 4.18 joules. One calorie is the amount of energy needed to
raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree centigrade. In terms of
power, one joule is equal to one watt-second. performance in laser applications
is defined by joules per pulse instead of average power because the amount of
material melted or vaporized is directly related to laser's energy per pulse,
not its average power.
www.nnoble.com/Glossary.htm
A unit of energy. One joule
equals 0.2388 calories or 0.0009481 Btu.
www.uwsp.edu/cnr/wcee/keep/Mod1/Unitall/definitions.htm
one watt second; a unit of
energy
www.spectranetics.com/pa/glos.html
A measurement. The international
unit of energy. One joule is equal to one WATT - second or 0.737 foot
pounds.(081)
www.impactrm.com/html/j.html
The amount of work done when the
point of application of a force of one newton is displaced a distance of one
metre in the direction of the force. One megajoule ("MJ") means
1,000,000 joules; one gigajoule ("GJ") means 1,000,000,000 joules.
www.egd.enbridge.com/B/glossary.asp
A unit of energy equal to 107
ergs or to 0.2389 calories.
www.novalynx.com/glossary.html
A proposed international unit
for expressing mechanical chemical, or electrical energy, as well as the concept
of heat. In the future, energy requirements and feed values may be expressed by
this unit. (4.184J = 1 calorie)
members.tripod.com/~litchlab/labhelp.htm
a unit of electrical energy
equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance
of one ohm for one second
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
English physicist who
established the mechanical theory of heat and discovered the first law of
thermodynamics (1818-1889)
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn
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