Energy Efficiency

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Energy Efficiency
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What is the solution to reducing our reliance on
fossil fuels?

• We need to become more energy efficient!!!!!!!!!!

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Some ways to increase energy efficiency

• Insulate and plug leaks
• Use energy efficient windows
• Install a tankless instant water heater
• (this heats water instantly as it flows through a
  small burner chamber)

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Use Energy Efficient appliances

• Frost-free frig
• Clothes dryers with moisture sensors
• Front-loading washers

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Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

• Benefits of CFLs
• They use 90 less energy than regular bulbs
• They emit very little heat
• They last 10x longer than regular bulbs

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What you should know about CFLs

• Most of them are not dimmable
• They contain trace amounts of mercury, so if you
  break one you need to handle it carefully
• They need to be disposed of differently than
  regular bulbs
• Large chain stores are beginning to accept used
  bulb returns

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Why is mercury a concern in the environment?

• When released into the air it can enter the water
  supply and contaminate it
• It can enter the food chain and the level
  increases with trophic levels
• This causes biomagnification, which is of
  particular concern for top predators

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How mercury enters the food chain
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Mercurys Path
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Mercury can affect reproduction and offspring
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What is Minamata Disease?

• A 26 year ban on fishing in Japans Minimata Bay
  resulted from mercury contamination in 1932 by
  Chisso chemical plant.
• Thousands of people were afflicted with the
  disease and hundreds died

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So why should we switch to CFLs if they contain
mercury?

• They actually result in less mercury entering the
  environment because they use much less
  electricity
• Since most of our electricity still comes from
  coal-fired electric power plants, less mercury is
  produced

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WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• We can save energy in buildings by getting heat
  from the sun, super insulating them, and using
  plant covered green roofs.
• We can save energy in existing buildings by
  insulating them, plugging leaks, and using
  energy-efficient heating and cooling systems,
  appliances, and lighting.

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Saving Energy in Existing Buildings

• About one-third of the heated air in typical U.S.
  homes and buildings escapes through closed
  windows and holes and cracks.

Figure 17-11
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What can be done around your house?
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A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY STRATEGY

• A more sustainable energy policy would improve
  energy efficiency, rely more on renewable energy,
  and reduce the harmful effects of using fossil
  fuels and nuclear energy.
• There will be a gradual shift from large,
  centralized macropower systems to smaller,
  decentralized micropower systems.

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Small solar-cell power plants
Bioenergy power plants
Wind farm
Rooftop solar cell arrays
Fuel cells
Solar-cell rooftop systems
Transmission and distribution system
Commercial
Small wind turbine
Residential
Industrial
Microturbines
Fig. 17-35, p. 414
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More Renewable Energy Increase renewable energy
to 20 by 2020 and 50 by 2050 Provide large
subsidies and tax credits for renewable
energy Use full-cost accounting and life-cycle
cost for comparing all energy alternatives Enco
urage government purchase of renewable energy
devices Greatly increase renewable energy RD
Improve Energy Efficiency Increase
fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles,
buildings, and appliances Mandate govern- ment
purchases of efficient vehicles and other
devices Provide large tax credits for buying
efficient cars, houses, and appliances Offer
large tax credits for invest- ments in energy
efficiency Reward utilities for reducing
demand for electricity Encourage indepen- dent
power producers Greatly increase
energy efficiency research and development
Reduce Pollution and Health Risk Cut coal use
50 by 2020 Phase out coal subsidies Levy taxes
on coal and oil use Phase out nuclear power or
put it on hold until 2020 Phase out nuclear
power subsidies
Fig. 17-36, p. 415
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Economics, Politics, Education, and Energy
Resources

• Governments can use a combination of subsidies,
  tax breaks, rebates, taxes and public education
  to promote or discourage use of various energy
  alternatives

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Four strategies can be used

• 1. Can keep prices artificially low to encourage
  selected energy resources.
• 2. Can keep prices artificially high to
  discourage other energy resources.
• 3. Emphasize consumer education.
• 4. Produce long-range policies geared to solving
  energy problems rather than short-term laws in
  reaction to pressure under stressful times