Our Blog
We hope this Blog is informative, educational and entertaining. It will deal primarily with all things relating to energy and in particular, electricity, which, let’s face it, makes the world go round.
Bundles of Energy
You and I are bundles of energy. In simple terms, the 37 trillion plus cells in our bodies need energy to function. By complicated processes, electro- chemical reactions are produced from the food we consume to provide energy to the cells. The cells themselves are composed of atoms – “the smallest possible piece of an element that retains all the properties of that element.” Atoms carry energy. Atoms are composed of smaller particles called electrons, protons and neutrons. Electricity (or electric current) as we commonly know it is the flow of electrons powered by a generator or a battery through a closed circuit with an on/off switch connected to an appliance ( a tv, kettle, phone etc.) that makes it work. If you want a more scientific explanation there are plenty of good sources on the internet.
Power Outage
Our lives come to a virtual halt when we have an electricity failure. Unless we have alternative energy sources, our appliances and machines stop working, our electricity powered communication and transportation systems fail, and we are unable to feed, warm and entertain ourselves. This was brought home to me when there was a recent power outage in our area one night which lasted for two hours. I looked out the window and saw that only two houses had light – one was my home where I had the foresight to keep one of those hand-powered dynamo torches, and the other where the householder had his car lights focused on the front of his house. We also had a stock of candles which came in handy. Most of us take electricity for granted and are never prepared for a time when we are deprived of it either by a breakdown in the public supply or through faults in the home distribution system.
Silent Killer
While being a boon to mankind, electricity can also be a silent killer to the unwary or the careless. The UK government does not appear to keep detailed statistics of death, injury and property damage caused by electrocution or fires of electrical origin. According to one independent source, there were over 20,000 accidental domestic electrical fires which resulted in 46 deaths 2469 injuries during the period 2011-2012. These are shocking (pardon the pun) statistics.
Protection is Paramount
Protecting the home and, indeed any other place of electrical usage, should be of paramount concern to everyone. Children, especially, should be educated from an early age of electrical hazards. For example, the combination of water and electricity is deadly. Teach young children to stay away from electrical connections and not touch sockets with their fingers or objects. Socket outlet covers would be a good idea when there are babies and toddlers around.