ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION

BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION

Energy which is saved by improvements in efficiency has, in practice, often provided good environmental benefit and provided a net cost saving to the energy user. Building insulation, fluorescent lighting, and public transportation are some of the most effective means of conserving energy, and by extension, the environment.

Energy conservation is the practice of increasing the efficiency of use of energy in order to achieve higher useful output for the same energy consumption. This may result in increase of national security, personal security, financial capital, human comfort and environmental value. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote environmental values. Industrial and commercial users may want to increase efficiency and maximize profit.

On a larger scale, energy conservation is an element of energy policy. The need to increase the available supply of energy (for example, through the creation of new power plants, or by the importation of more energy) is lessened if societal demand for energy can be reduced, or if growth in demand can be slowed. This makes energy conservation an important part of the debate over climate change and the replacement of non-renewable resources with renewable energy. Encouraging energy conservation among consumers is often advocated as a cheaper or more environmentally sensitive alternative to increased energy production.

tax breaks

Governments can provide incentives to consumers and businesses to adopt green measures like tax breaks for:

• Hybrid vehicles

• Home insulation

• Solar hot water heating

• Alternative power sources such as compact wind turbines.

Architecture

Governments can encourage or legislate for 'green' design. Houses and offices can be designed to conserve energy in many ways:

• Control heat loss by sealing windows and doors

• Smaller homes that need less power for light and heat

• Use of natural air currents instead of air conditioning

• Better insulation to reduce the need for heating and air conditioning

• Protect windows from sunlight in summer

• Use of natural light instead of electric lighting

• Use of renewable energy such as compact wind turbines and solar panels.

public lighting

Environmentally aware governments are increasingly using new energy-efficient light bulbs, and particularly the new LEDs (light-emitting diodes) for public lighting of bus shelters, public spaces and streets.

airlines

Governments can work together to allow airliners to fly in as straight a line as possible, instead of negotiating their way around different airspaces. Legislation could force plane design to be more economical and for jets to be towed instead of burning fuel while taxiing.