A few weeks ago on NOVA Science Now I saw a segment about this and how the fix may be in, but many years off. The solution is diamond. Apparently they’ve figured out how to manufacture diamond so that it is indistinguishable from natural diamonds on both the atomic and visual level. The conductivity and insulation properties of diamond are the best in nature (a centimeter-thick diamond plate can withstand 10,000 volts) so many years down there line scientists foresee electricity being transmitted via diamond wires, circuits, batteries, etc.

The example they used was that modern day electric trains require something like 3-tons of battery equipment to operate. If these batteries were converted to diamond-based batteries, they would weight roughly three pounds… for the entire train’s battery system.

Now maybe this is just sci-fi stuff at this point, but maybe in 20, 50, 100 (?) years something like diamond will revolutionize the way we transport, store, and use electricity.

Here is the segment for those of you who are interested: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html

A few weeks ago on NOVA Science Now I saw a segment about this and how the fix may be in, but many years off. The solution is diamond. Apparently they’ve figured out how to manufacture diamond so that it is indistinguishable from natural diamonds on both the atomic and visual level. The conductivity and insulation properties of diamond are the best in nature (a centimeter-thick diamond plate can withstand 10,000 volts) so many years down there line scientists foresee electricity being transmitted via diamond wires, circuits, batteries, etc.

The example they used was that modern day electric trains require something like 3-tons of battery equipment to operate. If these batteries were converted to diamond-based batteries, they would weight roughly three pounds… for the entire train’s battery system.

Now maybe this is just sci-fi stuff at this point, but maybe in 20, 50, 100 (?) years something like diamond will revolutionize the way we transport, store, and use electricity.

Here is the segment for those of you who are interested: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html

A few weeks ago on NOVA Science Now I saw a segment about this and how the fix may be in, but many years off. The solution is diamond. Apparently they’ve figured out how to manufacture diamond so that it is indistinguishable from natural diamonds on both the atomic and visual level. The conductivity and insulation properties of diamond are the best in nature (a centimeter-thick diamond plate can withstand 10,000 volts) so many years down there line scientists foresee electricity being transmitted via diamond wires, circuits, batteries, etc.

The example they used was that modern day electric trains require something like 3-tons of battery equipment to operate. If these batteries were converted to diamond-based batteries, they would weight roughly three pounds… for the entire train’s battery system.

Now maybe this is just sci-fi stuff at this point, but maybe in 20, 50, 100 (?) years something like diamond will revolutionize the way we transport, store, and use electricity.

Here is the segment for those of you who are interested: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/0401/01.html

or what they do, which is usee transformers to run up the transmission voltage.

long haul runs around 300,000 Volts, local grid runs 13,000 volts
and the stuff on the streets runs 440V before they drop it to 22V
to your hosue

or what they do, which is usee transformers to run up the transmission voltage.

long haul runs around 300,000 Volts, local grid runs 13,000 volts
and the stuff on the streets runs 440V before they drop it to 22V
to your hosue

from wiki- Transmission and distribution losses in the USA were estimated at 7.2% in 1995

nothing compared to what we spend later to save now.
We have to move away from being so concerned about inital cost and look at energy cost over the lifetime.

Look at a old strip malls roof, poorly insulated, no solar. Small lowest efficiency air conditioner made, crappy ductwork, probably a jacked up thermostat running at who knows what hours.
Hey it all goes on the tenants electric meter right.

Lessors need to build central plants and sell tenants chilled water.
Imagine roofs cover with solar instead of low efficiency air conditioners.

Building automation has become pretty much standard, recently required in bigger buildings, but the quality of the HVAC and controls has to come way up.

more insulation, more solar, better lighting, more frequency drives on motors, better hvac, better automation, even more insulation, even more solar.

The only thing that will ever drive it is the cost of electricity.

Mag lev bearings have been in a few large tonnage chillers for 15 years but need to be become much more popular and used in many application. Imagine zero friction.

from wiki- Transmission and distribution losses in the USA were estimated at 7.2% in 1995

nothing compared to what we spend later to save now.
We have to move away from being so concerned about inital cost and look at energy cost over the lifetime.

Look at a old strip malls roof, poorly insulated, no solar. Small lowest efficiency air conditioner made, crappy ductwork, probably a jacked up thermostat running at who knows what hours.
Hey it all goes on the tenants electric meter right.

Lessors need to build central plants and sell tenants chilled water.
Imagine roofs cover with solar instead of low efficiency air conditioners.

Building automation has become pretty much standard, recently required in bigger buildings, but the quality of the HVAC and controls has to come way up.

more insulation, more solar, better lighting, more frequency drives on motors, better hvac, better automation, even more insulation, even more solar.

The only thing that will ever drive it is the cost of electricity.

Mag lev bearings have been in a few large tonnage chillers for 15 years but need to be become much more popular and used in many application. Imagine zero friction.