Understanding Energy Conservation and Its Many Benefits

Energy conservation is when you make a conscious decision to use less energy. You might be wondering, can it really be that simple? Yes, yes, it can! UnderstandingEnergyConservationandItsManyBenefitsEducational,EnergyConservation,EnergyEfficiency Didyouknowthatin2018two-thirdsofthetotalenergyusedbyAmerican‘swaswasted?That’salotofenergyresourcessquanderedthatwecannevergetback.However,thereisgoodnews.Expertsbelievethatby2050wecanreduceourtotalenergyusagebyasmuchas60%,andallitwilltakeissomesimpleenergyconservation.  Inthisarticle,we’llprovideanin-depthexplorationofenergyconservationandexplainwhyithasbecomesoimportant.We’llalsogooverthetopicofhowtoconserveenergyandtargetspecificwaysthatyoucanhelpinenergyconservationefforts.  WhatIsEnergyConservation?   Energyconservationiswhenyoumakeaconsciousdecisiontouselessenergy.Youmightbewondering,canitreallybethatsimple?Yes,yes,itcan!Notonlyisitsimple,butit’salsoquitebeneficial.Whenwelowertheamountofenergyweuse,weslowdownfossilfueldepletionandhelpcleanuptheenvironment.Whilewe’reatit,weendupsavingourselvesmoney.Let’stakeacloserlook.  WhyIsEnergyConservationImportant? source Currently,theprimaryenergysourcesintheUnitedStatesarefossilfuelslikeoil,coal,andnaturalgas.However,fossilfuelsarenon-renewableresourcesthatarecreateddeepdownwithintheEarth’ssurfaceoverthecourseofmillionsofyears.We’reusingthemsofastthattheywilleventuallybecomeexhausted.    What’smore,fossilfuelsnegativelyimpacttheenvironment.CoalisthenumberonepollutantintheUnitedStates.Burningitleadstocarbondioxideemissionsthatcontributetoglobalwarming.Plus,burningcoalcausesacidrain,smog,andsoot.Itevencreatestoxicairemissions,whichislinkedtocongenitaldisabilities,cancer,andotherseverehealth-relatedconditions.   Thetopbenefitsofconservingenergy:    Helptheenvironment  Prolongtheexistenceoffossilfuels  Savemoney  HowDoesEnergyConservationHelptheEnvironment?   Whenyoulimityourenergyusage,youloweryourimpactontheenvironment.Thelongerwegowithoutmakingsignificantchanges,thegreaterthethreatofglobalwarmingandclimatechangebecometoourdailylives.   Whenweburnfossilfuels,theycreateanincredibleamountofgreenhousegasemissions.Thesegasses,whichincludecarbondioxide,addupfasterthantheatmospherecanabsorbthem,whichpreventsEarthfrombeingabletomaintainastabletemperatureproperly.    Theplanet’srisingtemperaturesarewhatwerefertoasglobalwarming.Weclassifythesideeffectsofwarmingasclimatechange.Weobservethesesideeffectsthrougheventssuchaschangesinsealevel,coldsnaps,droughts,hurricanes,meltingglaciers,andwildfires.Fortunately,wecanreducegreenhousegasemissionsbyreducingouruseofenergy.  Thesimpleactofenergyconservationcanhelpslowglobalwarming,whichwillallowusto:    Savecoastalcitiesfromdisappearingunderwater  Improvewaterqualityandprotectreefsandotherfragileecosystems  Improveairqualityandreduceairborneallergensleadingtoareducedriskofcardiovascularandrespiratoryissues  Lowerimpactonmentalhealth,injuries,andfatalitiescausedbysevereweather  HowWillConservingEnergyProlongtheExistenceofFossilFuels?   source It’sinevitablethatwewillrunoutoffossilfuelsatsomepointeventhoughwerelysostronglyonthemasourprimaryenergysource.Assuch,wemustbeginlimitingourenergyconsumptionnow.Theslowerweburnthroughthesenon-renewableresources,themoretimewehavetodevelopalternativeenergysolutionsbeforeexhaustingourfossilfuels.  HowWillEnergyConservationAllowYouToSaveMoney?  Thereareanumberofwaysthatconservingenergyleadstofinancialbenefits.Herearethreeexamples:   Delayfossilfuelpriceincreases  Loweryourutilitybills  Provideyouwithmoreopportunitiesfortaxcreditsandrebates  First,asoursupplyoffossilfuelscontinuestodiminish,itwillbelessreadilyavailable.Drillingandminingwillbecomeincrediblydifficultand,inturn,becomemoreexpensive.Thisaddedcostleadstotheconsumer’scostincreasingaswell.    Asconsumers,wecanreduceourfossilfueldependencebyusinglessenergyandcontinuingtolookfornewwaystoimproveourenergysustainabilityoptions,suchassolar,wind,andhydroelectricpower.Themorewestartrelyingonourrenewableenergysources,themorewecanprolongtheexistenceoffossilfuelsandslowdownthespeedoffossilfuelpriceincreases.   Anotherwaythatenergyconservationcanhelpyousavemoneyisthroughyourutilitybills.Fromthetypesofappliancesyouusetotheelectricityplanyou’reon,afewsimplechangescansignificantlyimpacthowmuchyourenergybillswillcostyou.Themorestepsyoutaketowardsconservingenergy,themoreyourelectricitybill,naturalgasbill,andevenyourwaterbillwillreflectthosechanges.Youcanstarttoseesignificantsavingsasyoureffortsbegintoaddup.   Thesavingsdon’tstopthere.TheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,alongsidevariousstategovernments,frequentlyofferenergyconservation-relatedrebateprogramsandtaxcreditstohomeowners.Itjusttakesaquickonlinesearchtofindtheincentivesandpoliciesthatareinplaceforyourstate.  WhatIstheDifferenceBetweenEnergyEfficiencyandEnergyConservation?  source Althoughenergyconservationandenergyefficiencyarebothwaystoreduceenergyusage,thereisadifferencebetweenthetwo.Whenwechoosetochangethewaywedothingstolimitourenergyuse,we’repracticingenergyconservation.Energyefficiencyiswhenwefindwaystouselessenergywithoutalteringthetaskathand.  AnExampleofEnergyEfficiencyvs.EnergyConservation   Whenyouchangeyourlightbulbsfromtraditionalincandescentlightsorhalogenbulbstolight-emittingdiode(LED)bulbs,youareimprovingyourenergyefficiency.Youarecontinuingtouseyourlightsthesameamountasyouwerebefore,butnowyou’reusinglessenergy.    Thisisbecauseitonlytakesa12-watt(W)LEDbulbtogiveoffasmuchlightasa43-watthalogenbulbora60-watttraditionalincandescentbulb.That’sabigdifference,andit’sasimplewaytouselesselectricity.    Now,ifyoumakeaconsciousdecisiontoturnoffthoselightseverytimeyouleavetheroom,that’spracticingenergyconservation.  LearningHowToConserveEnergyIsEasy  Youcaneasilyaccomplishactsofenergyconservationbymakingafewsimplelifestyleadjustments.Withsomanywaystosaveenergy,yougettopickandchoosewhichmethodsanddevicesarerightforyou.    Onegreatwaytostartisbydoinganenergyauditofyourhome.Lookaroundforsimplewaysthatyoucansaveenergy.Makesuretotakenotessoyoudon’thavetotackleitallatonce.Thekeyistonotletitbecomeoverwhelming.Takejustonesmallstepatatime,andyou’llbefeelinggreataboutyourenergyconservationchoicesinnotime.   WhatAreEnergyConservationMethods? source Wecouldn’tpossiblylistallofthewaystoconserveenergyhere.Still,thislistofenergy-savingtipswillgiveyouasolidunderstandingofenergyconservationmethodsthatyoucanusenow.  OutsidetheHouse  Driveasmallervehiclethatgetsbettergasmileageorpurchaseahybridorelectriccar.Whenpossible,carpoolorusepublictransportation.Orbetteryet,rideyourbicycleorwalkifyoucan.  Helpcontrolthetemperatureinyourhomebyplantingshadetreesinkeyareasaroundyouryard.  InsideYourHome  Turnofflightsandunplugelectronics,otherdevices,andtheirchargerseverytimetheyarenotinuse.Simplifythisbyinstallingpowerstripssothatyoucanturnoffmultipleitemswithoneswitch.  Replaceallofyourhalogenandotherincandescentlightbulbswithcompactfluorescentlightbulbs(CFLs),LEDs,orsmartlightbulbs.  Checktomakesurethatyouratticandwallsareadequatelyinsulated.  Sealanycracksaroundwindowsanddoorswithcaulkandweatherstrippingtoavoidunwantedairleaks.   Keepwindowcoveringslikecurtainsopenoncoldbutsunnydaystoallowthesun’swarmthtoshinein.Onhotdays,keepthemclosedtokeepoutthermalenergyfromthesun.  Repairplumbingissueslikerunningtoiletsandfaucetsthatleak.  Installwater-savershowerheadstohelpwithconservinghotwater.Optfortakingshortershowersinsteadofbathsandturningthewateroffwhileyoubrushyourteethorshave.  Formaximumsavingsonyourutilitybills,avoidasmuchenergyusageaspossibleduringyourprovider’speakhours.Peakenergyusagehourscanbedifferentdependingonyourproviderandlocation.Contactyourenergyprovidertofindouttheircurrentpeakhoursandiftheyofferanyincentiveprograms.  RegulatingTemperatures  Whenyouwantyourhousetostaycool,cutbackonactivitiesthatproducemoisturesuchasbathing,cooking,ordoingthelaundry.Timetoeat?Skipyourindoorappliancesandgoforthegrill.  Ceilingfanscanbeusedtoproperlycirculateairthroughoutyourhome,whichwillhelpwithyourairconditionerandheatingsystems’efficiency.  Installaprogrammablethermostatforworry-freetemperaturecontrolthatallowsyoutokeepyourhomecooleratnightthanduringthedaywithouthavingtoliftafinger.  Keepyourhotwaterheaterthermostatsetbetween120-140degreesFahrenheit.Wrapyourwaterheaterinawaterblankettoimproveitsefficiencyformoreeasysavingsonyourwaterheatingbill.  ApplianceUsageandEfficiency  Onwarmbreezydays,skipusingtheclothesdryerandopttohangyourlaundrytodryonaclothesline.  Whenyoudousethedryer,cleanthelinttrapaftereveryloadtohelpmaintainefficiency.  Washingyourlaundrydoesn’talwaysrequiretheuseofhotwater.Usecoldwatercycleswhenyoucan.  Cleanorreplaceairfiltersforyourcoolingsystemsandheatingsystemsasrecommended.  Keepyourrefrigeratorcoilsdust-freetopreventenergywaste.  Opttouseaslowcooker,toasteroven,ormicrowaveoveraconventionalovenwhenpossiblesincetheyalluselessenergythanafull-sizeoven.  Replaceyouroutdatedbaselinemodelapplianceswithenergy-efficientmodels.  WhatTypesofEnergyConservationDevicesAreThere?  source Youdon’thavetoconserveenergyallonyourown.Today,youcangethelpbyusingenergy-efficientappliancesandsmartdevicesthroughoutyourhome.Thesedeviceshavebeenbuiltwithenergyefficiencyinmind,andthere’snoshortageofoptions.   Youcanreduceyourenergyconsumptionandutilitybillsinstantlybyusinganynumberoftheseenergy-efficientproducts.Findouteasilyifsomethingisgovernment-certifiedtoreduceenergycostsbyatleast30%.AllyouhavetodoislookfortheEnergyStar®label.   CommonHouseholdAppliancesandDevicesThatComeWithanEnergyStar®Label  Clothesdryers  Heating,ventilation,andairconditioner(HVAC)systems  Laptops  Lighting  Microwaves  Refrigerators  Waterheaters  ​Washers  Windows  WhatAreSmartAppliances?  Manymanufacturersnowofferwhatarecalledsmartappliances.Theseareappliancesthatyoucanconnectremotelytohomeenergymanagementsystemsandsmartelectricmeters.    Therearemanybenefitstomakinganinvestmentinsmartappliances.Thisadvancedtechnologywillautomaticallymakeadjustmentswhenyourelectricityismostused.Forexample,itwilldelayyourrefrigerator’sdefrostcycleuntilthemiddleofthenightwhenthecostofelectricityischeaper.Thatmeansyousaveonyourutilitybill,andyoudidn’tevendoanythingtomakeithappen.Youprobablydidn’tevennoticethattherewasachangeatall.    Smartappliancesensurethatyou’reusingasmuchenergyduringoff-peakhoursaspossible.Airconditioningsystems,dishwashers,heatpumps,andrefrigeratorsarejustafewofthesmartappliancesthataremanufacturedtoday.   Yourutilityprovidercanhelpyoulearnmoreabouttime-basedelectricityratesandthedifferenttypesofsmartgridtechnologiesavailabletoconsumersinyourarea.Theycanexplaintheenergyplansthatareavailabletoyouandwhatbenefitsyou’dreceivefromeach.  WhatAreSmartThermostats?   Smartthermostatsareprogrammablethermostatsthatallowyoutocontrolyourhome’sinternaltemperatureinreal-timefromanywherearoundtheworld.Likeotherprogrammablethermostats,youcansetthemtoautomaticallyturnonandoffduringcertainhoursoftheday.Still,smartthermostatshavealotofadditionalperks.    Youcanadjustthetemperaturebasedonthehumiditylevelinsideyourhome.Youcanchecktoseeifyourememberedtoturnoffthelights.Andyoucandoitallfromaremotelocationlikethestore,work,oreventhebeach.Sinceheatingcostscanchangebyaround5%foreachdegreeandcoolingcostswillflexby3%perdegree,installingasmartthermostatwillsaveyoumoneywhilesavingenergy.  UnderstandingEnergyConservationIsaCriticalStepsTowardsaBetterQualityofLife  source Whenitcomestoenergyconservation,perhapsyou’dliketostartsmallandsimplebysettingagoalofonlyrunningfullloadsinyourdishwasherandwashingmachine.Ormaybeyou’rereadytogoall-inandinstallasolarenergysystem.Whateveryoudecide,youreffortsinconservingenergywillpositivelyimpactbothyoupersonallyandtheworldaroundyou.Whenyou’reready,contactyourenergysuppliertodiscussanewelectricityplanornaturalgasplanaspartofyourenergyconservationefforts. 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