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Another reason we haven't had those blackouts is that electrical efficiency is increasing, even as we increase demand. For example imagine all the CRT screens,

Another reason we haven't had those blackouts is that electrical efficiency is increasing, even as we increase demand. For example imagine all the CRT screens, street lights, and incandescent bulbs that were all replaced with LCDs.

sidewndr46 2y ago
this is physically impossible. You can't have more demand in terms of kw-h, joules, amps, watts or whatever yet also not have more demand. The device could have 0.0001% efficiency or 99.99%. If demand goes up, demand goes up. What the device does with that power is not relevant.
- mschuster91 2y ago
  > You can't have more demand in terms of kw-h, joules, amps, watts or whatever yet also not have more demand. You can have a demand for more lumens of lighting power... but if you previously used incandescent bulbs and now go for LED, you can expend less electrical energy than you did with the old bulbs.
- gibolt 2y ago
  Imagine the increase in demand without the efficiency improvements. Improving everything that pulls power significantly decreases the growth curve, meaning more time to increase available capacity.
- quickthrowman 2y ago
  An LED lamp puts out more lumens per watt than a fluorescent or incandescent lamp. Similarly, an induction motor controlled by a variable frequency drive can use much less energy by varying its speed instead of using a fixed speed motor starter. VFDs typically get signals from building automation or process control systems and adjust the motor speed accordingly. An arbitrary example would be a fan running at 50% speed generating 50% airflow but using only 25% of the electricity needed to run at 100%. https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/adjustable-speed-drive-part-load-efficiency https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/adjustable-speed-dr...
giantrobot 2y ago
New construction is also often tied to more generation and higher efficiency. Even a brand new McMansion uses less power than a 40 year old house that's half the size. There's also even odds that new McMansion was mandated to have solar.

sidewndr46 2y ago

this is physically impossible. You can't have more demand in terms of kw-h, joules, amps, watts or whatever yet also not have more demand. The device could have 0.0001% efficiency or 99.99%. If demand goes up, demand goes up. What the device does with that power is not relevant.

mschuster91 2y ago
> You can't have more demand in terms of kw-h, joules, amps, watts or whatever yet also not have more demand. You can have a demand for more lumens of lighting power... but if you previously used incandescent bulbs and now go for LED, you can expend less electrical energy than you did with the old bulbs.
gibolt 2y ago
Imagine the increase in demand without the efficiency improvements. Improving everything that pulls power significantly decreases the growth curve, meaning more time to increase available capacity.
quickthrowman 2y ago
An LED lamp puts out more lumens per watt than a fluorescent or incandescent lamp. Similarly, an induction motor controlled by a variable frequency drive can use much less energy by varying its speed instead of using a fixed speed motor starter. VFDs typically get signals from building automation or process control systems and adjust the motor speed accordingly. An arbitrary example would be a fan running at 50% speed generating 50% airflow but using only 25% of the electricity needed to run at 100%. https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/adjustable-speed-drive-part-load-efficiency https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/articles/adjustable-speed-dr...

giantrobot 2y ago

New construction is also often tied to more generation and higher efficiency. Even a brand new McMansion uses less power than a 40 year old house that's half the size. There's also even odds that new McMansion was mandated to have solar.