energy efficiency. what is the solution to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels? we need to become...
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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
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