EARTH’S EXERGY CONSUMPTION HIERARCHIES-FROM THE BIOSPHERE TO HAIRDRYERS

摘要

Earth, people and our energy system consume exergy, not energy. So using an exergy opticshould be preferred when we plan future hydricity systems. Here, we provide a perspectiveon the exergy optic from the viewpoint of the Earth and its major energy-transactionconstituencies: the biosphere, people and civilization’s energy system. We then considerrepresentative components within the energy system hierarchy. Our objectives are tounderstand better the nature and sources of thermodynamic losses, to provide abackground against which future hydricity opportunities may be evaluated and to improveunderstanding of how people, civilizations and nature operate and are connected.