1. Energy Conservation

2. What is energy conservation?  Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used while achieving a similar outcome.

3. Why conserve energy?  This practice may result in increase of financial capital, environmental value, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote economic, political and environmental sustainability. Industrial and commercial users may want to increase efficiency and thus maximize profit.

4. Why conserve energy?  On a larger scale, energy conservation is an important element of energy policy. In general, energy conservation reduces the energy consumption and energy demand per capita, and thus offsets the growth in energy supply needed to keep up with population growth. This reduces the rise in energy costs, and can reduce the need for new power plants, and energy imports. The reduced energy demand can provide more flexibility in choosing the most preferred methods of energy production.

5. Why conserve energy?  By reducing emissions, energy conservation is an important part of lessening climate change. Energy conservation facilitates the replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy. Energy conservation is often the most economical solution to energy shortages, and is a more environmentally benign alternative to increased energy production.

6. Energy Usage  The U.S. is currently the largest consumer of energy, although at current levels of growth, it is possible that in the future China and India could become the leading energy consumer. The U.S. Department of Energy categorizes national energy use in four broad sectors: transportation, residential, commercial, and industrial.  Energy usage in the transportation and residential sectors (about half of U.S. energy consumption) is largely controlled by individual domestic consumers. Commercial and industrial energy expenditures are determined by businesses entities and other facility managers.

7. Energy Usage

8. Transportation  The transportation sector includes all vehicles used for personal or freight transportation. Of the energy used in this sector, approximately 65% is consumed by gasoline- powered vehicles, primarily personally owned. Diesel- powered transport (trains, merchant ships, heavy trucks, etc.) consumes about 20%, and air traffic consumes most of the remaining 15%.  The U.S. government has tried to encourage better vehicle efficiency through tax policy. Since 2002, taxpayers have been eligible for income tax credits for gas/electric hybrid vehicles.  Another focus in gasoline conservation is reducing the number of miles driven. An estimated 40% of American automobile use is associated with daily commuting.

9. Transportation  In recent years telecommuting has also become a viable alternative to commuting for some jobs, but as of 2003 only 3.5% of workers were telecommuters.  A vehicle's gas mileage normally decreases rapidly at speeds above 55 miles per hour. A car or truck moving at 55 miles an hour can get about 15 percent better fuel economy than the same car going 65 mph. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as a rule of thumb, each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is similar to paying an additional $0.21 per gallon for gas (at $3.00 per US gallon).

10. Residential  Energy use varies significantly across the country, due to regional climate differences and different regulation. On average, about half of the energy used in the U.S. homes is expended on space conditioning (i.e. heating and cooling).  The efficiency of furnaces and air conditioners has increased steadily since the energy crises of the 1970s. Despite technological improvements, many American lifestyle changes have put higher demands on heating and cooling resources. The average size of homes built in the United States has increased significantly, from 1500 ft² in 1970 to 2300 ft² in 2005. The single-person household has become more common, as has central air conditioning: 23% of households had central air conditioning in 1978, that figure rose to 55% by 2001.

11. Residential  Home energy consumption averages:  space conditioning, 44%  water heating, 13%  lighting, 12%  refrigeration, 8%  home electronics, 6%  laundry appliances, 5%  kitchen appliances, 4%  other uses, 8%

12. What can “I” do about it? Use compact fluorescent lighting rather than incandescent lighting Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees F in the winter, and 75 degrees F in the summer Turn off lights when not in use Turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees F or purchase point of use water heaters Turn off your water heater when on a trip Add insulation to your home, and caulk or otherwise seal leaking areas in your home

13. What can “I” do about it? Replace old appliances with energy efficient appliances (primarily heat/air units, and water heaters, the most energy consuming appliances) Purchase higher mileage vehicles, and keep your vehicle properly maintained (including tire pressure) Use water conserving nozzles to reduce water use including hot water

14. Websites http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/q5_energ.htm http://www.energystar.gov/ http://www.eere.energy.gov/ http://hes.lbl.gov/ http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=800 http://www.green-e.org/

15. Questions (3 points) 1. To what temperature should you set your water heater in order to save energy and money? 2. What type of light bulb saves energy over incandescent lighting? 3. Since _____, taxpayers have been eligible for income tax credits for gas/electric hybrid vehicles. 4. Of the energy used in this sector, approximately ___% is consumed by gasoline-powered vehicles, primarily personally owned. 5. What is one reason to conserve energy?

16. 10 Point Question  Make a poster or write a 300 word essay on energy conservation. The poster should be an original composition, that clearly conveys your message. You can compose a slogan to use with your poster if you wish. Posters will be graded for originality and clarity. The essay should also be an original composition on one of these two topics: 1. Three energy conservation methods that have been proven to work. 2. A new technology that has been developed to help conserve energy. The essays will be graded for clarity. Please provide references for essays.