Everything You Need to Know About Electrification
Have you ever heard someone say they are going to “electrifyandrdquo; something? If so, they probably only used it as a metaphor. The actual process of electrification is highly scientific, though it also factors into all of our daily lives. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about electrification from our team of experts at Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar.
Understanding Electrification
In the broadest sense, electrification is the process of powering something through electricity. It may also refer to changing something over from an earlier power source so that it runs on electricity instead. In the modern world, we see electrification everywhere we look. Where lamps were once powered with candles, gas and fire, they are now turned on with electricity. Conversely, while modes of transportation like bikes are still powered through human movement, electrification has allowed for more versatility, so things like motorized bicycles and scooters have become an option, too.
In contemporary history, we saw the process of electrification take hold in the 1880s, with sweeping advancements being made until 1950. By the mid-twentieth century, electrification was no longer a novelty, it was the standard. Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan put incandescent light bulbs in practically every home in the United States and Great Britain. Manufacturing transitioned the industrial world from steam and water to electric motors. Even HVAC appliances became more widely available in electricity-powered models, rather than relying solely on fuels like natural gas.
This brings us to today, and the important work that electrification can still do. Although The National Academy of Engineering called electrification “the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th Century,” there are many places, outside of the Western world especially, where the grid is not the dominant source of power. In addition to bringing electricity to these places, it is also important to consider how electrification can help us transition away from oil, gas and coal to more sustainable power sources. Consider that even advancements in solar technology would not be possible without electrification. Bottom line, electrification has not only given us devices like the computer, the smartphone and the television, itandrsquo;s also important to help us reach a more sustainable future, where the world is a safer place for everybody.