Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

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

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

Some ways to increase energy Some ways to increase energy efficiency:efficiency:

Insulate and plug leaksInsulate and plug leaks Use energy efficient windowsUse energy efficient windows Install a tankless instant water Install a tankless instant water

heaterheater

(this heats water instantly as it flows (this heats water instantly as it flows through a small burner chamber)through a small burner chamber)

Use Energy Efficient appliancesUse Energy Efficient appliances

Frost-free frigFrost-free frig Clothes dryers Clothes dryers

with moisture with moisture sensorssensors

Front-loading Front-loading washerswashers

Use Compact Fluorescent Light Use Compact Fluorescent Light BulbsBulbs

Benefits of CFL’s:Benefits of CFL’s: They use 90% less They use 90% less

energy than regular energy than regular bulbsbulbs

They emit very little They emit very little heatheat

They last 10x longer They last 10x longer than regular bulbsthan regular bulbs

What you should know about CFLs:What you should know about CFLs:

Most of them are not dimmableMost of them are not dimmable They contain trace amounts of mercury, so if They contain trace amounts of mercury, so if

you break one you need to handle it you break one you need to handle it carefullycarefully

They need to be disposed of differently than They need to be disposed of differently than regular bulbsregular bulbs

Large chain stores are beginning to accept Large chain stores are beginning to accept used bulb returnsused bulb returns

Why is mercury a concern in the Why is mercury a concern in the environment?environment?

When released into the air it can enter When released into the air it can enter the water supply and contaminate itthe water supply and contaminate it

It can enter the food chain and the It can enter the food chain and the level increases with trophic levelslevel increases with trophic levels

This causes biomagnification, which is This causes biomagnification, which is of particular concern for top predatorsof particular concern for top predators

How mercury enters the food chainHow mercury enters the food chain

Mercury’s PathMercury’s Path

Mercury can affect reproduction and Mercury can affect reproduction and offspringoffspring

What is Minamata Disease?What is Minamata Disease?

A 26 year ban on A 26 year ban on fishing in Japan’s fishing in Japan’s Minimata Bay resulted Minimata Bay resulted from mercury from mercury contamination in 1932 contamination in 1932 by Chisso chemical by Chisso chemical plant.plant.

Thousands of people Thousands of people were afflicted with the were afflicted with the disease and hundreds disease and hundreds died died

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

They actually result in less mercury They actually result in less mercury entering the environment because entering the environment because they use much less electricitythey use much less electricity

Since most of our electricity still Since most of our electricity still comes from coal-fired electric power comes from coal-fired electric power plants, less mercury is producedplants, less mercury is produced

WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

We can save energy in buildings by getting We can save energy in buildings by getting heat from the sun, super insulating them, and heat from the sun, super insulating them, and using plant covered green roofs.using plant covered green roofs.

We can save energy in existing buildings by We can save energy in existing buildings by insulating them, plugging leaks, and using insulating them, plugging leaks, and using energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, appliances, and lighting.appliances, and lighting.

Saving Energy in Existing Saving Energy in Existing BuildingsBuildings

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

Figure 17-11Figure 17-11

What can be done around your What can be done around your house?house?

A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY STRATEGYSTRATEGY

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

macropower systems to smaller, decentralized macropower systems to smaller, decentralized micropower systems.micropower systems.

Fig. 17-35, p. 414

Small solar-cell power plantsBioenergy power

plantsWind farm

Rooftop solar cell arrays

Fuel cells

Solar-cell rooftop

systems

Transmission and distribution system

Commercial

Small wind

turbineResidential

Industrial Microturbines

Fig. 17-36, p. 415

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

Encourage government purchase of renewable energy devices

Greatly increase renewable energy R&D

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

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 energyefficiency research and development

Economics, Politics, Education, Economics, Politics, Education, and Energy Resourcesand Energy Resources

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

Four strategies can be used :Four strategies can be used :

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