Office of Electricity (2024)

FAQs

What consumes most electricity in an office? ›

Does a source of electricity ever run out of electrons? How much money do I save by recharging my cell phone at work? What is the speed of electricity? Why can't lightning strike the same place twice?

The three most basic components of electricity are voltage, current, and resistance. VOLTAGE is like the pressure that pushes water through the hose. It is measured in volts (V). CURRENT is like the diameter of the hose.

A typical substation at a power plant

Typical voltages for long distance transmission are in the range of 155,000 to 765,000 volts in order to reduce line losses. A typical maximum transmission distance is about 300 miles (483 km). High-voltage transmission lines are quite obvious when you see them.

Power is defined as the rate at which work is completed. It's also known as the rate at which energy is consumed.

The definition of electricity is the flow of charge. Usually our charges will be carried by free-flowing electrons. Negatively-charged electrons are loosely held to atoms of conductive materials.

What are the three wires from pole to house? ›

The smaller the wire and the longer the run, the more significant the voltage drop. For example, with a 120-volt circuit, you can run 60 feet of 12 AWG cable without losing more than 3% voltage. With a 240-volt circuit, you can run 120 feet of 12 AWG wire while maintaining a voltage drop of 3% or less.

Typical primary voltages include 7,200 volts single phase and 12,500 volts three phase. Secondary lines, or secondaries, are located lower down on utility poles, usually below transformers. Typical secondary voltages are between 120 volts to 480 volts.

What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.

Small restaurants and cafés

With such high intensity equipment, from industrial-sized ovens, to fridges, freezers, and food preparation tools, it is no surprise that restaurants and cafés are some of the highest energy consuming businesses.

Electricity and natural gas were the main energy sources in U.S. commercial buildings in 2018. Electricity accounted for 60% and natural gas for 34% of total energy use in U.S. commercial buildings in 2018. Buildings use electricity for all end uses.

It's no surprise heating and cooling tops the list — we're suckers for turning the air conditioner on when it's too hot, and the heater on when it's freezing. In the summertime, try using a fan before switching on the air conditioner. They are cheap to run at only around 2 cents per hour.