(5)

Energy Conservation  

 

Michelle Washebek washebmg@uwec.edu

Part of Iraq & Our Energy Future, by students of
Geography 378 (International Environmental Problems & Policy)
at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, USA, Spring 2003.
     
     

At the present rate the world only has 200 years of coal energy, 60 years of natural gas, and a mere 45 years of petroleum energy left before our supplies are depleted. This is a terrifying fact when 85% of our commercial energy production comes from these three sources (G).

Not only is the quickly disappearing supply a concern, but all the energy being used produces carbon emissions and intensifies the green house effect. These problems can be lessened if we use new innovations which emit less carbon.

(12)

Our society as a whole tends to be extremely wasteful with its energy, and there are many new energy sources being developed which you can learn more about on this site. On this page, however, energy conservation both in the home and in industry will be discussed.

    In your home
There are many ways to conserve energy in the comforts of your own home. By conserving energy one is not only helping the environment, but saving money on their personal energy bills as well. Some simple and quick ways to reduce energy consumption can also reduce dependence on foreign oil.

On this page you will find information about:

• Heating Energy Savers
• Cooling Energy Savers
• Appliance Energy Savers

Heating Energy Savers

Heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy used in homes today (A). This represents an area where energy saving techniques can have a large impact.

  • One good way to reduce your heating bill is to keep your thermostat at no more than 68 degrees in the winter time. One can still stay comfortable by merely putting on a sweater.

(1)

  • In addition to keeping the temperature lower during the day, one can keep it at 55 degrees at night, or when gone of a weekend. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can save up to 3% of heating system energy use (B).
  • Keep drapes closed to keep the heat in on cold cloudy days or nights, and open them on sunnier days.
  • Regularly change the filter in your furnace to maintain efficiency (about every month or two).

(2)

  • Keep the damper closed on your fireplace when you are not using it.
  • When possible use gas heat instead of electric. In this way, less energy is lost on the way from the power plant to your house.
  • Increase your insulation, and when possible use cellulose, it is made from recycled newspapers and is thus environmentally friendly.
  • Install window insulation kits as an extra barrier against the cold (D)

(3)

Back to the top

Cooling Energy Savers

Air conditioners themselves use one-sixth of the U.S. electricity every year. On a hot day during summer, they can eat up 40% of energy expenditures. Some energy conserving ideas concerning heating and cooling are:

  • Air conditioners can be maintained at 78 degrees during the summer, and each degree higher at which one keeps the thermostat for air conditioning saves about the same amount, 3%, as it does for heating.

(6)

  • Turn the air conditioner off at night, instead open a couple windows, and turn on fans which are less energy consuming when weather permits.

(4)

  • Tell businesses when you feel too cold or too warm.
  • Turn off the air conditioning when the building is not occupied. Contrary to popular belief the air conditioner does not need to work harder to catch up when you turn it back on.
  • An easy way to change the temperature with the time of day is to buy a timed thermostat which can be programmed to automatically change the temperature for you whether in the hot or cold season (C).
  • To keep the cold in and the hot out, weather-stripping and caulking at door and window frames and wherever two parts of the building come together.

(7)

Back to the top

Appliance Energy Savers

The energy used by every little appliance adds up. Everything from light bulbs to washing machines are made with varying energy performance. Some good ways to cut back on appliance energy use are:

  • Invest in energy efficiency. When an old appliance such as a refrigerator or a washing machine dies, buy a newer efficient one. Energy Star labeling lets you know which products are the most energy efficient.

(9)

  • The US Dept. of Energy can be looked at for appliance efficiency.
  • Fix any leaking faucets.
  • Unplug battery chargers, radios, and other little transformer boxes while not in use. You can even unplug TVs and lamps. This can save up to $20 per month (E).
  • Use fluorescent light bulbs when possible. They can save 75% of the energy that regular incandescent bulbs use.
  • Use clotheslines to dry clothes instead of dryers.

(11)

  • Have computers go into sleep mode instead of showing screen savers.
  • Turn off computers when not using them for a while. Turn off lights in rooms that you won't be in for more than 15 minutes (F).

Back to the top

Industry

Energy conservation in industry can be rather similar to that in the home, merely on a larger scale. In fact industry has a larger incentive to cut back on their energy use and invest in conservation techniques and technologies because they can reap an even larger savings than home owners. Some of the new technologies, and simple fixes are as follows:

  • The Parkroyal Hotel used to have a back service door than was left open all day for delivieries. They hung spring-loaded, plastic flap doors up instead of just leaving the previous one open all day and enjoyed an energy savings of $300 per month. Not only that, but nearby staff now can work in a more consistently comfortable environment. The new door decreased the amount of heat energy wasted.
  • Fluorescent light bulbs are great in the home and in businesses. The same hotel changed 250 light globes in public parts of the hotel from 100 watt light globes to 13 watt energy-efficient globes. By just changing the type of bulb they used, they gained a cost saving of $2,166 per year(H).

(10)

Other Helpful Sources

 

Sources for this site

(A) U.S. Department of Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov

(B) Conserving Energy http://www.nrha.org/orgill/How-To/weather/energy /energy.htm

(C) Take Action on Energy http://www.ceegr.org/take_action/energy.html

(D) The Biggest Insulation site on the Web! http://www.betterinsulation.com/

(E) Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp

(F) Seattle City Light http://www.seattle.gov/light/Publications/pb4_broch.asp

(G) International Environmental Problems and Policies Power Point http://www.uwec.edu/grossmzc/Fossilfuels378.ppt

(H) Environmental Innitiatives in the Hotels Industry http://www.p2pays.org/ref/04/03616.htm

(I) Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/

See also Wisconsin Focus on Energy http://www.focusonenergy.com/

Graphics Sources

(1) http://www.smarthome.com/3001.html

(2) http://plumbing.aubuchonhardware.com/heating_duct/furnace_filters/furnace_ filter-406803.asp

(3) http://www.aubuchonhardware.com/brands/thermwell_prods_co.asp

(4) http://electrical.aubuchonhardware.com/fans_air_conditioners_humidifiers_and_ dehumidifiers/ceiling_ attic_and_window_fans/52_ceiling_fan_with_light-504718.asp

(5) http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/light/conserve/

(6) http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Delonghi_Pinguino_PAC_360_10000_BTU~FD-1888

(7) http://www.nrha.org/orgill/How-To/weather/energy/energy.htm

(8) http://www.uwec.edu//images/uwecweb/uwec.gif

(9) http://www.energystar.gov/

(10) http://images.google.com/images?q=fluorescent+light+bulbs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en

(11) http://www.windustry.com/images/clothesline.jpg

(12)http://aceee.org/p2/save.htm

Back to the top