Saving Energy and Energy Conservation and Implementation
Some of the energy we can use is called renewable energy. These include solar, wind, geothermal and hydro. These types of energy are constantly being renewed or restored.
But many of the other forms of energy we use in our homes and cars are not being replenished. Fossil fuels took millions of years to create. They cannot be made over night.
And there are finite or limited amounts of these non-renewable energy sources. That means they cannot be renewed or replenished. Once they are gone they cannot be used again. So, we must all do our part in saving as much energy as we can.
In your home, you can save energy by turning off appliances, TVs and radios that are not being used, watched or listened to.
You can turn off lights when no one is in the room.
By putting insulation in walls and attics, we can reduce the amount of energy it takes to heat or cool our homes.
Insulating a home is like putting on a sweater or jacket when we're cold...instead of turning up the heat.
The outer layers trap the heat inside, keeping it nice and warm.
New space-age materials are being developed that insulate even better. This person's fingers are protected by Aerogel Insulation Material created by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The person cannot even feel the flame!
Recycling
To make all of our newspapers, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and other goods takes lots of energy.
Recycling these items -- grinding them up and reusing the material again -- uses less energy than it takes to make them from brand new, raw material.
So, we must all recycle as much as we can.
We can also save energy in our cars and trucks.
Make sure the tires are properly inflated.
A car that is tuned up, has clean air and oil filters, and is running right will use less gasoline.
Don't over-load a car. For every extra 100 pounds, you cut your mileage by one mile per gallon.
When your parents buy a new car, tell them to compare the fuel efficiency of different models and buy a car that gets higher miles per gallon.
You can also save energy in your work place or school.
Each week you can choose an energy monitor who will make sure energy is being used properly.
The energy monitor will turn off the lights during recess and after class.
You can make "Turn It Off" signs for hanging above the light switches to remind yourself.
WHAT ARE THE USES OF ENERGY?
Energy is defined as "the ability to do work." In this sense, examples of work include moving something,
lifting something, warming something, or lighting something. The following is an example of the
transformation of different types of energy into heat and power.
Oil burns to make heat -->
Heat boils water -->
Water turns to steam -->
Steam pressure turns a turbine -->
Turbine turns an electric generator -->
Generator produces electricity -->
Electricity powers light bulbs -->
Light bulbs give off light and heat
It is difficult to imagine spending an entire day without using energy. We use energy to light our cities and homes, to power machinery in factories, cook our food, play music, and operate televisions. In a home where electricity supplies all of the energy requirements, the average energy consumption is shown below:
Air conditioner and heater = 50%
Water heater = 20%
Lighting and small appliances = 10%
Refrigerator = 8%
Other = 5%
Ovens and stoves = 4%
Clothes dryer = 3%
Electricity is generated from both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources. These sources are defined below.
Renewable energy sources:
These sources are constantly renewed or restored and include wind (wind power), water (hydropower), sun (solar), vegetation (biomass), and internal heat of the earth (geothermal). About 9.0 percent of electricity in the U.S. is generated from renewable sources. Nonrenewable energy sources:
These are natural resources that cannot be replenished (fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal). About 71.5 percent of electricity in the U.S. is generated from nonrenewable sources. In addition to renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, about 19.5 percent of electric power in the U.S. is generated by nuclear power plants. However, operating such plants poses significant nuclear waste disposal problems; consequently, there are no current plans to build more. Most electricity in the United States is generated by burning nonrenewable fossil fuels and there is a limited amount of these energy sources. WHY IS ENERGY CONSERVATION IMPORTANT?
Because of the limited amount of nonrenewable energy sources on Earth, it is important to conserve our current supply or to use renewable sources so that our natural resources will be available for future generations.
Energy conservation is also important because consumption of nonrenewable sources impacts the environment. Specifically, our use of fossil fuels contributes to air and water pollution. For example, carbon dioxide is produced when oil, coal, and gas combust in power stations, heating systems, and car engines.
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a transparent blanket, that contributes to the global warming of the earth, or "greenhouse effect." It is possible that this warming trend could significantly alter our weather. Possible impacts include a threat to human health, environmental impacts such as rising sea levels that can damage coastal areas, and major changes in vegetation growth patterns that could cause some plant and animal species to become extinct.
Sulfur dioxide is also emitted into the air when coal is burned. The sulfur dioxide reacts with water and oxygen in the clouds to form precipitation known as "acid rain." Acid rain can kill fish and trees and damage limestone buildings and statues.
You can help solve these global problems. In the U.S., the average family's energy use generates over 11,200 pounds of air pollutants each year. Therefore, every unit (or kilowatt) of electricity conserved reduces the environmental impact of energy use.
HOW YOU CAN Reduce Energy consumption – THIS WILL HELP YOU?
The following four concepts can help you evaluate your household energy use and identify ways to conserve energy. These concepts will significantly reduce a family utility bill and other energy costs over 1 year.
Changing What You Use
U Walk, ride a bicycle, or use mass transit instead of driving; automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of air pollution in our cities.
U Install compact fluorescent light bulbs that use less energy and last 10 times longer than
incandescent light bulbs.
U Air-dry your clothes on a laundry line instead of using a clothes dryer.
U Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature when you are in bed or away.
U Buy energy-efficient appliances. There are standard energy use tags attached to most new
appliances that can help you determine which appliance will be the most efficient. These
appliances may be more costly, but your utility bill savings will quickly make up for the extra cost.
Changing What You Do
U Set the thermostat to 68 °F in winter when you're home and down to 55° F when you go to bed or are away (programmable thermostats can do this automatically).
U Insulate the ceiling, walls, and floor of your home.
U Plant a tree next to a window for shade to reduce the need for air conditioning.
U Recycle items such as newspaper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles; recycling these items
requires less energy than producing them from brand new, raw materials.
U Wash clothes in cold water and only in full loads.
U Use energy-saving settings on washing machines, dishwashers, and clothes dryers.
Improving Your Housekeeping
U Turn down the water heater thermostat to 120° F.
U Turn off lights when leaving a room.
U Close heating vents and close doors to unused rooms.
U Close drapes and windows during sunny summer days and after sunset in cooler weather.
U Stop air leaks around windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping. Air leaks can rob your house of heat in the winter or make it too humid in the summer. As much as 40 percent of your heating and cooling costs can be due to air leaks.
U Clean or change air filters on your air heating system in the winter and on air conditioning units in the summer so that they work more efficiently.
Educating Yourself and Others
U evaluate energy efficiency in your house. (See DOE Website)
U Share knowledge and ideas with family, friends, and neighbors.
WHY IS ENERGY CONSERVATION IMPORTANT?
Energy conservation helps endure resources for the future and also helps prevent pollution.
U know that if we continue to consume nonrenewable sources at an increasing rate, these sources
will be depleted.
U know that not only are we depleting our nonrenewable sources, but that use of fossil fuels has
negative environmental impacts, such as global warming and acid rain.
TESTING THE THEORY OF ENERGY CONSERVATION IS IMPORTANT?
Materials Needed: Two thermometers, two plastic bags (one large and one small), and twist ties
Activity:
U Lay one thermometer inside the small bag.
U Inflate the bag by blowing into it, then close the end with the twist tie.
U Put the inflated bag inside the larger plastic bag.
U Inflate the large bag with air and close the end with the twist tie.
U Place the bag in direct sunlight, and lay the second thermometer next to the bag.
U Observe the temperature reading of both thermometers after 30 minutes.
U Explain to the public that the temperature reading inside the bag should be higher because the
double layer of air inside the bag acts as a greenhouse, just like the atmosphere around the earth.
U Explain to the public that both layers of air allow radiant energy from the sun to enter, and this radiation energy is absorbed and trapped when it is reflected back from the earth. As a result, the temperature near the earth increases, as it does in a greenhouse. Similarly, in this demonstration, when sunlight enters the outer bag (or the earth's atmosphere), the inner bag (or gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide) absorbs and reradiates the heat back toward the
thermometer (or earth), thereby raising the temperature. This situation represents global warming.
U Emphasize to the public that as more gases are released into the atmosphere through the use
of fossil fuels, the more heat is absorbed and trapped in our atmosphere.
