Many developed nations are undergoing massive efforts towards lowering the consumption of electricity, an effort that would not be sufficient unless people and industries will continue to use and develop more energy efficient technologies to offset the increased demand for energy due to a growing population.
In recent decades our societies became conscious about the need to preserve natural resources and to reduce energy consumption. Shifting from the conventional way of producing electricity to the renewable and sustainable energy generated from wind, solar, geothermal or nuclear, helps to drastically reduce the carbon emissions in the world.
A major area of developing new strategies in regards to reducing electrical energy consumption is targeted at the residential “lighting and appliances”. For example, our South Florida homes are mostly “all-electrical”, and multiple studies show that “lighting and appliances” usually account for over one quarter of the electrical energy consumption for an entire household. Only by switching from incandescent lighting bulbs to compact florescent ones, the electricity savings are in the range of more than half. Besides the immediate energy savings, it was demonstrated that even if “a compact florescent light bulbs may cost twice as much as an incandescent, it lasts ten times as long” (Lester, 81). Since the prices for the compact florescent lamps recently dropped due to technological advancements, it makes it easier for all of us to participate in conserving electricity use.
In regards to “appliances”, studies suggest that the use of television sets, video or audio systems, computers, refrigerator, cooking ranges, microwaves, washer and dryers account for more than half of the total household “lighting and appliances” energy consumption. In our country, regulatory agencies are getting involved in raising the standard for the new appliances, allowing only the production of appliances that meet new efficiency requirements. These agencies are also looking into regulating the small amount of current that is consumed by appliances when these are turned off. These are called “phantom loads” and appear in all appliances that are plugged in, even if the appliances are completely turned off. One can easily avoid this wasted electricity by unplugging the appliance when not in use. Studies estimate that “roughly five percent of US residential electricity use is from appliances in standby mode” (Lester, 86).
It is important to acknowledge that our school building and infrastructure were built to latest standards. As a student at FGCU, I observed that the building itself, parking lots, the dorms, sidewalks and roads infrastructure were developed in a very conscious and efficient way.
FROM observation we have come to know, that more than 1.5 billion people around the world have little or no access to light due to shortage or unavailability of electricity. Large numbers of affected people are from rural areas, and to a certain extent people from urban areas are also getting griped into energy crises. Statistics from United Nations says, that an investment of about US$35 billion to 40 billion per year is required to provide electrical energy to accomplish consumer basic need of energy for light, cook and mobility. Even after such heavy investment 16% of the world’s population will still not have electricity by the year 2030 (International Energy Agency).
...also save energy by using motion censoring for doors and sinks. The dining rooms and foyers should have dim-able light switches. Another way to save a lot of energy is to make a master switch at the front door that turns off all lights. That way you never leave a light on when you aren't at home. You should use natural gas cook tops and ovens to cut down on electricity.
Using less energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, thereby contributing to a cleaner environment.
Based on Laurel Nesbit, a program assistant in the Office of Sustainability here at UF, our campus manages to utilize 470,000 Megawatts of energy annually. This figure is generated from all the energy-consuming gadgets that operate on our campus on a daily bases. These gadgets include computers that are left turned on over the night even they are not in use, copiers, and the fume hoods in our laboratories. Admittedly, the success and the health of wellbeing of the students is contingent upon some of these equipment. For instance, the laboratories need the fume hoods in order to keep the experimenters safe. Instead of casting these necessities away, we can develop alternatives which will be capable of generating energy in order to compensate for the electricity that we endlessly
Ross, J. P., & Meier, A. (2001). Whole-house measurements of standby power consumption. In Energy Efficiency in Household Appliances and Lighting (pp. 278-285). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Our planet is home to over five billion people, all consuming natural resource, and most producing finished goods. From bicycles to automobiles and houses to skyscrapers, this constant production takes an immense amount of energy. Not only human energy, but electricity too. It is need to power the assembly lines that make bicycles and automobiles. It's essential to run your home appliances, and business computers, and its all produced using similar methods. You heat water to produce steam, which turns a turbine, and generates electricity. Its not quite that simple, but for the purpose of this paper it will suffice. By far the most widespread source of fuel are fossil fuels. They are still abundant, and are relatively easy to obtain. However there is one main problem with the burning of fossil fuels. It produces pollution, in the form of dirty air, polluted water, and greenhouse gasses. This pollution is one of the main causes of global warming, the impact of which has the potential to destroy the planet. It is unreasonable to ask humanity to give up electricity, but the two main problems still exist. Pollution, and an eventual exhaustion of fossil fuels. Therefore an alternative form of energy must be found. Several ideas exist. There is hydroelectric power, solar power, wind power, and nuclear energy.
What do we mean when we use the term energy efficient? Energy efficiency is, "using less energy/electricity to provide the same service". These days when shopping you see the term ‘energy efficient’ on all lighting and building aisles. They are there to encourage us to change from...
Based on my collected data, the energy consumption for my refrigerator alone is approximately 38% of the average energy consumption per day. (The energy consumption of the refrigerator is the highest).
...nservative powers: automated comfort controls and new lighting systems aim to cut electricity costs and reduce pressure on the grid, (Power) Mechanical Engineering 57
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, over half of the oil used in the USA is imported. Most of this imported oil is located in the middle east and is controlled by OPEC members. Subsequent oil price shocks and price manipulation by OPEC have cost our economy dearly—about $1.9 trillion from 2004 to 2008—and each major shock was followed by a recession (Reduce). We may never be able to fully eliminate our need to import oil, but we can reduce cartel market control and the economic impact of price shocks by reducing our demand (Reduce). One way we can reduce our reliance on oil is through investing in renewable energy. Solar power, wind power, and hydro power are all forms of energy which come from renewable resources. Unlike oil, solar, wind and hydro electric power is abundant and can be obtained locally.
Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors. Since Americans are indoors for more than 90% of their times, lighting should be a concern. 20% of the electric bill, which comes at the end of each month, has to deal with lighting. Humans are always trying to buy new things and try new things that will save them money is energy efficient. However, Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) fulfill these needs. LED bulbs have revolutionized and made life much easier.
Electricity is taken for granted in the twenty-first century. Appliances make our life easier and lighting allows our days to extend longer into the night. Electricity is increasingly making its way into, and point to point.
You could always be energy efficient with everything you do. You could always do something that would help your energy bills. You could have Energy Star appliances and still get the same results with the appliances. They may be a little bit more expensive but it could have the same features of any big name brand appliances.
The world that we live into today affords us the expectation that the flip a switch will turn the lights on. As populations increase and developing nations undergo dramatic economic growth, this energy demand will only continue to grow. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that “the world’s energy needs could be 50% higher in 2030 than they are today” (ElBaradei). Given this projected growth, it is necessary for world leaders must take action to secure the energy supply. Meaning that world leaders need to start seriously considering an alternative to non-renewable energy sources. “In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal” (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The fossil fuels that are used to supply over half of our country’s energy are in finite supply and are increasing in price to astronomical heights.
Household energy conservation is a very practical and realistic approach to conserving energy within our society. US households consume a tremendous amount of natural gas as well as electric energy. It has been calculated that the amount of energy consumed within the US increased exponentially from about 1850 to 1975. If energy continued to increase at this rate, we would be experiencing severe energy shortages in our current society. Luckily, steps towards conservation, including various energy regulations, have curbed that growth somewhat, brining the predicted 160 Qbtu/yr for the year 2000 down to around 93.8 Qbtu/yr by the year 1996. However, household energy usage is still a major issue as households consume about 38% of the total consumed energy and contribute greatly to natural gas consumption and issues such as global warming. Therefore, it is important that people understand how we use energy in the household and what steps can be taken to conserve that energy.