Domestic Energy

Discuss how the main sources of domestic energy have changed over time.
Ever since fire was discovered, wood remained the major source of fuel until the industrial revolution in the 18th century. Since then fossil fuels in the form of coal and then oil and natural gas have mostly replaced wood as the major source of fuel. These original power sources were augmented to a certain extent by the domestication of animals and by mills powered by running water or wind. Wind has also been used to power boats for the last few thousand years.

While the major source of power in the early days of the industrial revolution was steam engines powered by burning wood or coal this began to change when Faraday in England and Henry in America discovered electromagnetic induction which enabled the continuous generation of electricity and the advent of electric motors. This led to the building of power stations that convert fossil fuels to electricity and this is the major source of power in industrialised countries.

Power stations use large alternators to produce electricity in the form of alternating current. The voltage is raised to very high levels by means of transformers and then carried through wires to the location where it is needed. Here other transformers lower the voltage to the level at which it is used; 240 volts for household consumption in Australia. The high voltage minimises power loss due to heating as the electrical energy is transferred over long distances. Power stations are built close to the coalfields and this is usually a long distance from where the majority of the electricity is consumed. Electricity is then supplied to cities.

Assess some of the impacts of changes in, and increased access to, sources of energy for a community.
The availability of sources of energy enables the functioning of the modern societies of today. The most significant impact would most likely be transportation. Raw materials are

collected from all over the world and transported to factories where they are converted into goods to be sold all over the world. Without affordable sources of energy we would revert to the local cottage industries of days gone by.

When we think of electrical energy in the home it is amazing to think of the number and variety of electrical appliances that we use. While some are readily replaceable (e.g. an electric stove can be replaced with a gas stove) others, such as the washing machine, are not readily powered by alternate sources of energy. Most people can make a list of around 20 different appliances in their home that rely on a readily available supply of electrical energy.

Discuss some of the ways in which electricity can be provided in remote locations.
Electricity can be provided in remote locations by using portable generators that are powered by petrol or diesel fuel. Wind powered generators can also be used but these are unreliable as the wind is not always blowing when electricity is required. A battery storage system for the electricity can help overcome this problem. A bank of solar cells can also provide electricity and again a battery storage system will make the electricity available at night or on overcast days. In days gone by the pedal wireless was used in remote locations of Australia to contact the flying doctor. This used a pedal powered generator to provide a small amount of electricity to power a radio transmitter that could be used in emergencies.